With rapid transformation ongoing and a keen focus on collectively building economic resilience in the region, the 2024 Caribbean Investment Forum was on Wednesday launched talks about placing priority on building partnerships and attracting investors in key non-oil sectors.
This year’s forum will focus on three investment sectors – sustainable agriculture, green economy transition and digitalisation of businesses.
The Caribbean Investment Forum 2024 is slated for July 10-12 at the Arthur Chung Conference Center under the theme: ‘Transforming Futures, Empowering Growth.”
It is expected to attract more than 500 investors from across the region.
Delivering the feature address at the launch which was held at the Marriott Hotel, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Waldron said the forum will provide the platform to foster economic resilience that will enable the region to recover and possibly withstand inevitable external shocks and natural disasters.
“By sustainable investment we mean investment that focuses on generating long term value rather than short term gains while integrating economic and social objectives into investment strategies,” Waldron said.
Such investment, she said, enables sustainable growth which is the type of investment needed to bridge the gap.
“As a region…We seek those who will remain with us through thick and thin and as we experience those inevitable external shocks that are the reality of our Caribbean existence.
“We wish to see patient investment we prioritizes long term returns that emanate from the sustainable economies that we wish to build,” Waldron said.
Waldron reminded that the region is one that is in reach of food security and sustainable agriculture production is an area of high priority.
“…Our region needs investment in renewable energy for energy secutiry to reduce our current dependence on fossil fuels and to survive the inevitable global transition from them,” Waldron said.
According to Executive Director of Caribbean Export Development Agency, Deodat Maharaj, the forum creates a unique platform to engage and create business.
“In other words, less talk, more business,” he said.
According to Maharaj, the Caribbean should also be a place for trade and investment like other parts of the world.
“For investment promotion, we must do this. At Caribbean Investment Forum we focus on…getting results and so therefore we have a forensic focus on getting the right people to the table,” he said.
Last year the Caribbean Investment forum was held in the Bahamas with over 500 participants, 92 percent of which were business owners and investors from over 45 countries.
Over the two days period, the forum will focus on leadership roundtable, investment forum and expo, opportunity centers and investment projects.
