-Minister Walrond urges as CIF comes to a close

GIVEN the numerous conversations about opportunities for partnerships that were had during the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF), Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, has said that it is time to transform the ideas into actionable initiatives.

The minister made this call at the closing ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Friday. Stakeholders from across the Caribbean were present at the three-day forum.

“We have brought the right people to the table and laid the necessary groundwork. We must now work to diligently advance these conversations and transform these ideas into actionable and institutionalised initiatives,” Minister Walrond said.

The minister went on to add that the forum had set the stage for a new era of collaboration and it was up to those who were present to carry that forward.

She indicated that the success of the interactions over the last few days will be determined in some measure by the number of business partnerships and investments that have resulted from the proceedings.

Giving some background, she indicated that over the past few days, conversations surrounded examining the barriers to regional and global trade and how to build bridges to overcome them.

With that, she said that there was an extensive focus on sustainable agriculture, business digitalisation and the transition to a green economy.
These discussions, Walrond said are vital for the Caribbean as we seek to expand the region’s investment portfolio.

While the Caribbean economies have relied on regional and international trade relationships in traditional sectors like tourism and agriculture, the dynamics of trade have shifted and investors are now exploring opportunities in non-traditional markets.

“This is why events like the Caribbean Investment Forum are of critical importance for us in the region. They afford us an opportunity, collectively, to access the shifting sands of global trade and commerce and to map out effective strategies for meeting the challenges of the future,” she expressed.

Against that backdrop, the minister said that the Caribbean, as a peaceful, safe and politically stable zone, represents numerous opportunities for attracting investments in non-traditional sectors.

Further to that, Walrond told the gathering that the framework for a new economic brand for the Caribbean is set and the region is poised to seize the opportunities ahead.

She said: “What we require is the will to succeed and the wisdom to work collectively This forum has highlighted numerous success stories and best practices we can replicate and scale across the region.”