Island positioning as regional investment centre with landmark forum partnership

Barbadian enterprises are preparing to secure a piece of $2bn in deals as some of the world’s most powerful investors meet here next month for two days of project pitches from across the region, Barbados TODAY has learned.

Invest Barbados, the state investment promotion agency, has signed a partnership agreement with the Caribbean Economic Forum (CEF) to facilitate the inaugural session, which will bring together about 150 global investors, development finance institutions, government leaders, infrastructure funds and private sector executives across several high-impact sectors.

The industries include energy transition and resilient power systems; water, ports and climate-resilient infrastructure; food and agriculture systems modernisation; and the blue economy, maritime infrastructure and coastal resilience.

According to organisers, these sectors are backed by more than US$5bn ($10bn) in available blended finance, guarantees and technical assistance, with the forum targeting a minimum of US$1bn ($2bn) in transaction arrangements over the June 18–19 event at the Hilton Barbados Resort.

Chief Executive of Invest Barbados, Kaye Greenidge, told Barbados TODAY exclusively that her agency will target a wide cross-section of productive sectors for potential investment funding.

“We are looking at all sectors in Barbados…even small manufacturers who may actually be creating a product at the moment, but want those investors to really put their products out there on the international market. We have two specific projects I know we will be pitching; but those are small creators who now want to expand their business, and really want to get the product they are manufacturing in Barbados, out to the global stage. They are looking for investors within their products.

“So it can range from manufacturers…renewable energy, any huge or government project and needs financing…it is open to those who want to pitch their projects or have their projects showcased so that the investors can see that this is happening, and see if the investors have interest.”

“At the end of the day, it is about economic enhancement and economic diversification. It’s about placing investors with investable projects, and making sure that we can match those together to ensure that funding for those projects are available, if the investors are amenable, and that those projects get off the ground. And at the end of the day, once those projects are Barbadian projects, and once they get off the ground in Barbados, that obviously transcends into job creation, economic enhancement for the country and so on.”

Greenidge underscored that the ultimate goal is to pitch investable projects to investors with the wherewithal to back them.

She explained that her agency agreed to partner with CEF 2026 because the forum is being held in Barbados.

Invest Barbados will ensure that many Barbadian projects seeking investment funding are showcased at the event, the chief executive said. 

“It is really done in a way where persons come in and pitch. Obviously, we will outline the value proposition for Barbados in general, in all of the particular focus sectors in Barbados to the potential investors that are coming in. But then, there are certain investors and projects that would actually pitch to the investors as they are on site to see if we can get investors into the projects to make the projects a reality.”

The CEO disclosed that while the agreement with CEF focuses on next month’s forum, there is scope for future collaboration on events outside Barbados.

“The whole future outlook is expected for us to be involved in any other forum that they put on wherever else in the world…and we are able to still take those projects and also pitch. It is not only, although it’s happening in Barbados, they are opening the conversation to other persons within the Caribbean region who may also have projects. Barbados is the location. So, as this may happen throughout the region in the future, any other initiative put on the Caribbean Economic Forum, we would also be involved.”

Signalling a historic first for the Caribbean, CEF 2026 is described as the region’s first dedicated deal origination and investment platform, conceived to transform how capital flows into the region.

Unlike traditional conferences, it is designed as a structured deal-making environment intended to compress the typical 12 to 24-month fundraising timeline required for bilateral introductions between banks, development finance institutions, private investors, governments and project sponsors, delivering those outcomes within 48 hours

The agreement marks a significant milestone in Barbados’ ambition to become a leading hub for capital mobilisation and economic transformation across the region, organisers said.

Under the agreement, Invest Barbados will serve as the CEF’s premier partner with the billing: “Caribbean Economic Forum 2026, Powered by Invest Barbados.” 

(EJ)