Couva, Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo Region, Trinidad and Tobago

🇹🇹 Couva is an urban town in west-central Trinidad, south of Port of Spain and Chaguanas and north of San Fernando and Point Fortin. It is the capital and main urban centre of Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo, and the Greater Couva area includes the Point Lisas Industrial Estate and the Port of Point Lisas. It is one of the fastest-growing towns in the country. Couva's southern boundary is at the village of California & Point Lisas, and to the north Couva stretches to McBean. To the east of Couva is Preysal. To the west of Couva is the road to Waterloo and Carli Bay, which are located on the Gulf of Paria. Couva was part of the Caroni County. Couva is considered a major power base for the United National Congress, whose headquarters was previously located here.

Economy Couva is the administrative and commercial centre of the region and the Point Lisas Port and Industrial Estate falls within the Greater Couva Urban Area. By 2011 Couva had the highest number (1789) of businesses in the region. With the closure of Caroni (1975) Limited and the resultant decline in sugarcane production, more lands in the Greater Couva Area will be under pressure for residential, commercial, and industrial expansion.

The main economic sectors in the region are as follows: • Commercial business activities largely restricted to retail trade (personal and household products, auto parts and services, banks, and mini‐marts and groceries, etc.). • Industrial development based on the existence of cement manufacturing in Claxton Bay by the Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL); petrochemical related industries at Point Lisas Industrial Estate; Petrotrin’s oil refinery operations at Pointe-à-Pierre; and other small light industry parks established by the Evolving Tecknologies and Enterprise Development Company (eTeck). • Agricultural activities comprising livestock rearing, mixed agriculture, and other agriculture. The Couva-Pt. Lisas Chamber of Commerce headquarters is within Couva located on Camden Road in Couva and its new building was commissioned 2012.

The town is served by all the major banks in Trinidad, e.g. Scotiabank (SCB), First Citizens Bank (FCB), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Republic Bank, and also the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC). Inclusive of these banks, there are numerous credit unions currently existing in Couva, e.g. TECU, Venture Credit Union etc.

Including many of the common fast food chains, Indian and Chinese food outlets as well as local franchises such as KFC, Subway, Church's Chicken, Pizza Hut and Starbucks, the most popular restaurants in the town include Balthazar, Bourgonvilla, Touch 'n' Taste, JZZ's International Steakhouse, Lady Gay and Kazza Pot & Kettle.

In addition, there are six beaches in the region where a significant amount and value of fish are landed. These beaches are Brickfield, Claxton Bay, Carli Bay, Orange Valley, St. Margaret Bay, and Waterloo. Located in Gran Couva (east of Couva), La Vega Estate is a 100 ha (250-acre) hideaway with outdoor activities and interests for the whole family. Originally a cocoa estate, La Vega is now home to a unique combination of garden centre, plant nursery, nature and recreation park.