The Caribbean Initiative at the Atlantic Council is hosted an in-person, invite-only event titled “Caribbean competitiveness: Global partnerships for infrastructure development” in Kingston, Jamaica on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at the AC Hotel from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. (Jamaica). This conversation was a call to action to international partners and Caribbean stakeholders to provide more financial and technical resources for critical infrastructure projects that support economic growth, resilience, and competitiveness.

The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including US, Canadian, and Caribbean leaders, representatives from multilateral development banks, and government partners. The program commenced with welcome remarks from Jaidev Singh, Director, Jamaica, United States Agency for International Development, followed by a keynote address delivered by Senator The Hon. Minister Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce of Jamaica, whose insights set the tone for the discussions that followed.

Welcome remarks



Jaidev Singh, Director, Jamaica, United States Agency for International Development

Keynote remarks

Senator The Hon. Minister Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Jamaica

Panel discussion

Patricia Francis, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Jeffrey Hall, Chairman, Kingston Wharves
Fatima Arroyo Arroyo, Program Lead for Infrastructure in the Caribbean, The World Bank
Oscar Avalle, Country Representative for El Salvador, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
H.E. Dr. Erja Askola, Head of the European Union Delegation to Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas, European Union

Moderator: Wazim Mowla, Fellow & Lead of the Caribbean Initiative, Atlantic Council

Agenda

9:30 – 10:00 a.m. | Registration

Coffee/tea/water will be served. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the event

10:00 – 10:05 a.m. | Welcome remarks

Jaidev Singh, Director, Jamaica, United States Agency for International Development

10:05 – 10:20 a.m. | Keynote remarks

Senator The Hon. Minister Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Jamaica

10:20 – 11:30 a.m. | Panel discussion

Patricia Francis, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Jeffrey Hall, Chairman, Kingston Wharves
Fátima Arroyo Arroyo, Program Lead for Infrastructure in the Caribbean, The World Bank
Oscar Avalle, Country Representative for El Salvador, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
H.E. Dr. Erja Askola, Head of the European Union Delegation to Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas, European Union

Moderator: Wazim Mowla, Fellow & Lead of the Caribbean Initiative, Atlantic Council

11:30 a.m. | Event ends

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The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center’s Caribbean Initiative raises awareness on key Caribbean Community (CARICOM) priorities with US and global stakeholders while deepening US engagement with the region around shared interests.

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