“Innovation, transformation, and sustainable development” is the anchoring theme of the 51st Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), which is scheduled for June 15 – July 1.

The virtual event, which will include seminars, discussion fora, keynote presentations, and business meetings, will showcase the scope and impact of the bank’s investments in and other assistance to its 19 borrowing member countries (BMCs).

CDB President Dr Gene Leon said, “The agenda of the annual meeting emphasises three elements – innovation, transformation, and sustainable development – for reshaping regional economies grappling with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and contending with numerous obstacles to sustainable growth and economic development. Our focus will be on practical solutions to move the needle beyond discussion to concrete action.”  

Among the anticipated features are the William G Demas Lecture, to be delivered on Tuesday, June 15, and a youth seminar scheduled for Wednesday, June 30, both of which will focus on innovation.   

Two seminars entitled ‘Reimagining the Caribbean in the Wake of COVID-19’, scheduled for Thursday, June 17, and ‘Climate Action in a Post COVID-19 Environment’, to be held on Thursday, June 24, will drive the discussion on sustainable development.

A special event on the agenda will be a conversation between the bank’s immediate Past President, Dr Warren Smith and Dr Leon, who took over leadership on May 4. This discussion, which is slated for Tuesday, June 22, will draw on the perspectives of the former and current bank presidents to outline the challenges facing the Region and lessons learned that could guide the bank’s future direction.

Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, who currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Governors, will address the opening ceremony on Tuesday, June 30. The ceremony will also feature Dr Leon’s inaugural keynote statement.

The annual governors’ round table will be held on July 1.  

More than 400 delegates are expected to participate in the various events and activities.  Participants will include the bank’s Board of Governors, Board of Directors, representatives from the regional and international finance and development communities, specially invited guests from regional and international organisations, academia, NGOs, and the general public.

(Published courtesy of the Caribbean Development Bank)