Caribbean Investment Forum 2026 launches here

Caribbean Export has launched the fifth Caribbean Investment Forum, saying the October event in Bridgetown will focus on securing investment for 30 bankable investment deals valued at about US$172m ($344).

Hosted by the regional export development agency in partnership with the government and the European Union, the flagship regional investment platform will take place October 5 to 7.

Organisers have called on regional governments, investment promotion agencies, private developers and global capital providers to actively participate in the upcoming October event in Bridgetown to finalise strategic partnerships and secure long-term capital commitments.

Dr Lynette Holder, chairperson of the Caribbean Export Development Agency, highlighted the evolution of the forum since its inception in 2022. She noted that the initiative has systematically shifted the regional narrative towards investment readiness and robust institutional governance.

She said: “Today is about more than launching another event. It is about reaffirming a vision of the Caribbean that is increasingly recognised not simply for its natural beauty or cultural richness, but as a region of innovation, resilience, and opportunity.

“Since its inception, CIF has helped to raise the visibility of Caribbean projects and enterprises, strengthen regional collaboration, and create new opportunities for dialogue and partnership. Just as importantly, it has helped to reinforce a more confident narrative about our region, not only as a place of need, but as a region of innovation, resilience, and genuine investment potential.”

Dr Holder emphasised that good governance remains fundamental to sustaining investor confidence and scaling regional ambitions ahead of the October conference.

Dr Lynette Holder, Chair – Caribbean Export Development Agency

“Strong governance builds confidence. Confidence attracts partnerships. Partnerships attract investment, and investment creates opportunities,” she noted, citing management theorist Peter Drucker. “The best way to predict the future is to create it, and so we sought to do that with this forum.”

Reinforcing the mandate for tangible economic outcomes, Dr Damie Sinanan, executive director of Caribbean Export, stressed that the forum is designed to bridge the gap between promising business concepts and capital deployment.

Dr. Damie Sinanan, Executive Director Caribbean Export Development Agency

He revealed that Caribbean Export’s curated investment portfolio currently stands at 30 pre-qualified projects valued at approximately US$172m.

“The Caribbean region does not lack ideas. It does not lack ambition. It does not lack entrepreneurial talent,” Dr Sinanan said. “What is often missing is the bridge between promising opportunities and an investable proposition—between businesses seeking to grow and the necessary finance, technical support, or strategic partnership required to make that route possible. CIF exists to build that bridge.”

He outlined plans to transition CIF from an annual conference into a year-round regional investment promotion platform. He highlighted the agency’s recent accreditation by the Green Climate Fund as a crucial mechanism to connect regional private-sector initiatives with climate finance, developmental capital and blended finance structures.

He continued: “This forum will not just feature talking. I would argue that the time for talking has long passed. Our ambition is to continuously evolve the event from a successful annual event into a year-round regional investment promotion platform—one that identifies opportunities earlier, strengthens readiness, and sustains engagement well beyond the three days.”

The ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Fiona Ramsey, underscored the strategic advantage of the Caribbean amid global economic headwinds, tightening capital markets and fragmented supply chains. She highlighted the stability, predictable legal frameworks and strategic positioning offered by CARIFORUM member states.

Ambassador Fiona Ramsey European Union Delegation To Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean_

“In that context of uncertainty, investors, governments, and partners are looking for reliable investment partners to work with,” Ramsey said. “The region offers incredible political stability, a very strategic geographic position relative to global markets, an increasingly skilled workforce, abundant renewable energy potential, a growing digital economy, and very innovative entrepreneurs who are ready to compete internationally.”

Ambassador Ramsey reaffirmed the EU’s long-standing support through the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement and the EU Global Gateway investment framework, which targets private capital mobilisation for critical infrastructure, green energy and digital connectivity.

“The increased emphasis this year in terms of pre-qualified projects, curated investor engagement, and targeted business matchmaking demonstrates how the forum is maturing its operational setup to really deliver for the region,” she added. “Our investment offer to the region, which we call Global Gateway, focuses on mobilising private investment for infrastructure that supports sustainable development goals.”

This year’s forum coincides with major institutional milestones, marking the 30th anniversary of Caribbean Export and the 50th anniversary of the EU’s diplomatic presence in the region.

(RR)