–delegation to be among key investment stakeholders at upcoming regional forum
WITH the aim of strengthening its partnership with the Caribbean region, the European Union (EU) will be among the key investments stakeholders to participate in the upcoming Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) that will be held in Georgetown, Guyana.
Speaking at the formal launch of the forum, last week, Joan Nadal Sastre, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, said the EU intends to be a “key business partner” with the region to achieve mutual sustainable goals.
“The European Union wants to do more business with the Caribbean; we want more EU companies to see the Caribbean as an investment opportunity. We want to be a key business partner …we have a lot to put on the table,” Sastre said.
He said that while the EU and the Caribbean have long shared a relationship, opportunities for further advancement are abundant.
“The Caribbean and the European Union enjoy a longstanding partnership, which is founded on shared values, common interest and strong economic, social and cultural ties to ensure that this partnership keeps growing stronger and stronger,” Sastre related.
The CIF forum which is slated for July 10 -12 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, will focus on a green economy transition, which will generate 400,000 additional high-paying jobs in the Caribbean, harnessing technology for agriculture in countries such as Guyana, Belize, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, to further achieve food security targets.
Further, digitalisation and technology will be among the topics to harness innovation to create well-paid jobs in the services sector.
JoEllen Laryea, Manager of Partnerships, Advocacy and Reporting, Caribbean Export Development Agency said that CIF will be a key platform for attracting the right investors to the region.
She emphasised the importance of technology, innovation, and investment in driving sustainable economic growth, highlighting the potential for collaboration between regional and local markets to create a positive impact
“We’re focusing on those sectors that can support our transformation to create a greener, smarter Caribbean. We also are looking to raise the profile of the candidate as an investment destination in the Caribbean which has so much to offer to the world as a whole,” Laryea said.
She further stressed the need for investment in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, technology innovation, and green economy transition, with a focus on fostering sustainable development and economic transformation in the Caribbean.
Aimed at fast-tracking Caribbean development, CIF serves as a platform for sharing, learning, preparing and finalising business and investment deals that support regional transformation.
It is anticipated that the event will feature a dynamic agenda, bringing together key decision-makers, foreign-direct investors, government agencies, and entrepreneurs, to engage and connect for the benefit of the region.
It is billed to be the largest business gathering of the region. Last year, CIF saw 500 participants, 92 per cent of which were business owners and investors from over 45 countries.
This year, to further support businesses and facilitate meaningful engagements, an online application will come on stream to help participants, investors and business owners to navigate the packed agenda.
