“A humble experience.”
That’s how Sieunarine Coosal, the Executive Chairman of the Coosal Group of Companies, is describing the decision by the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce to induct him into the Chamber’s Business Hall of Fame.
By letter dated October 1, 2019, the TT Chamber advised Coosal that he had been selected for induction at the Chamber’s Champions of Business Awards Ceremony and Cocktail reception to be held on November 15 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts.
The chamber told Coosal that he had been chosen by the Chamber’s selection panel as one of two awardees and inductees into the Business Hall of Fame for his contribution as “a pioneer, an astute strategist, philanthropist and role model for emerging business professions.”
On his induction, the Chamber said Coosal will “join the ranks of several other distinguished business leaders inducted into the Hall of Fame over the past 14 years.”
Reacting to the Chamber’s decision, Coosal told Guardian Media “to receive such an honour, to be chosen as someone who exemplifies business excellence—in commercial prowess, leadership and in national—social responsibility—by my peers, is quite a humble experience.”
On the evening of the Champions of Business Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception awardees in three other categories will be recognised. These are Internationally Known—a T&T company of the year sponsored by First Citizens and awarded to a local company that has made significant strides regionally and internationally. An Entrepreneur of The Year Award in which several finalists in the start-up and emerging entrepreneur subcategories will be recognised for their game-changing business endeavours, and a business technology award in which three technology companies or companies that may have created a technology-based solution or service will be recognised, and one will get the title at the event.
ABOUT SIEUNARINE COOSAL
After serving for several years on the Executive Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Contractors Association, Coosal was elected president. During this period he served as chairman of the Joint Consultative council on the Construction Industry. After vacating his post as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Contractor’s Association he remained a member of its Executive Committee. He continues, however, to represent the interests of the construction and quarrying sectors.
Mr Persad-Coosal is one of the founding members of the Quarry Association of Trinidad and Tobago. He served on the Executive Committee of the Association including the substantive post of President. His services to the quarry industry were reflected by his election as a fellow of the Quarry Association and a Life Member in 2003.
He succeeded to the Coosal’s business in 1991 when he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coosal’s Construction Company Limited. He has developed the business into a group of vertically integrated companies that are engaged in quarrying, manufacturing and general civil engineering contracting. The group also has its own internal security service company. His group is a member of the American Concrete Institute, American Concrete Pumping Institute, National Asphalt Paving Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Caribbean Asphalt Association and the British-Caribbean Chamber of Commerce. His business successes resulted in him being nominated in 1998 for the Entrepreneur of the Year.
In the year 2007, he was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association. He also holds membership in the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce for several years and is currently Vice-President of the Asphalt Pavers Association.
Coosal presently serves on the Advisory Board of Habitat for Humanity, a United Nations charitable organization. He is a member of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club, The St Augustine Tennis Club and a major contributor to many institutions, both social and religious. He is also a member of the Trinidad Yacht Club and the Trinidad Union Club.