The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has unveiled the full agenda for the 53rd Annual Meeting of its Board of Governors, (BOG) which is scheduled for June 12-23, 2023 in St. Lucia under the theme Marshalling Finance for Development: Access to Adequate, Affordable Financing.
The Meeting will be hosted by the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Hon. Phillip J. Pierre, who currently serves as Chairman of CDB’s BOG. The event will bring together the Bank’s highest decision-making body and other high-level regional stakeholders for solution-oriented discourse on the main challenges affecting the Region’s Sustainable Development agenda. The objective is to tackle the main constraints hindering access to the various categories of finance necessary for propelling economic growth and sustainability.
“The Annual Meeting’s focus on access to adequate and affordable financing for development supports the Bank’s objective of building economic resilience through the provision of increased resources to fuel growth and reduce the vulnerabilities the Region faces,” said CDB President, Dr Hyginus “Gene” Leon. “Considering our internal challenges and the uncertainties colouring the external landscape, it is critical for us to address the urgent need to mobilise additional resources to meet current needs while responding to external shocks that can potentially derail our fiscal systems and development programmes.”
As a prelude to the Meeting, CDB is hosting a series of complementary activities including seminars, involving regional and international decision-makers, which will explore innovative approaches to increasing development financing. The Bank will also stage several youth engagement activities, and a forum for dialogue and knowledge-sharing with representatives from the Region’s Indigenous community. Other anticipated high points are the 23rd annual William G. Demas memorial lecture, which will focus on climate finance, and the fourth edition of the President’s Chat, where CDB Head, Dr Hyginus “Gene” Leon will be joined by financial industry decision-makers for a panel discussion.
The CDB’s Annual Meeting will utilise a hybrid format with over 200 participants expected at events in Saint Lucia, while thousands more will be able to view all public sessions via online platforms including the Bank’s social media channels. Target audiences include government officials, policymakers, members of the development community, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, tertiary students, and youth leaders.