Invest Barbados, the government agency responsible for attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment, reaffirmed its commitment to positioning viable projects before global investors, while forging strategic partnerships and investment opportunities through its involvement in the inaugural Caribbean Economic Forum (CEF).
Powered by Invest Barbados and organized by ACERO Capital, an investment and advisory firm, the Forum, the CEF which was recently held at the Hilton Barbados, also provided a platform to announce Invest Barbados’ 20th Anniversary, marking two decades of promoting the country as an international business and investment jurisdiction.
Minister of Public and Private Investment Indar Weir, during his welcome remarks, said “There could not be a better time for this engagement. Global uncertainty has reinforced something Barbados has long understood: safety, stability, and predictability are valuable assets, and Barbados offers all three.” He also highlighted the Government’s commitment to providing investors with a seamless pathway from interest to implementation.
Connecting Projects Across the Island with Capital
Invest Barbados’ involvement in the event extended beyond its sponsorship of the Forum. Through a national call, the agency invited the submission of project proposals for an opportunity to deliver an investor pitch directly to investors attending the event.
Seven project teams were selected and assisted with preparing their investor pitches. Projects showcased included a coastal resilience and technology initiative presented by Joe Wheeler, CEO of Bluemvmt; a pharmaceutical testing services project presented by Nadine Benn-Greaves of the Centre for Commercial and Analytical Services; and the Greenland Valley Apiculture Project, an agribusiness and food-security initiative presented by Beviny Payne of Greenland Valley Farms.
Each presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session, allowing the project representatives to engage directly with investors.
“Participating in forums such as this highlights Barbados’ investment value proposition. It also connects investors with bankable projects, and importantly, showcases the breadth and diversity of opportunities available across the island,” said Invest Barbados CEO Kaye Greenidge.
Greenidge described the national call for proposals as a success and said further engagement is expected with project owners. As Invest Barbados marks its 20th anniversary this year, the CEO said the agency remains focused on strengthening the investor readiness of these projects ahead of matching their owners with suitable regional and international partners.
“This is essential to ensuring that Barbadians can participate more directly in the investment opportunities being created,” Greenidge added.
Greenidge, who also serves as President of the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA), stressed the importance of investors approaching investment promotion agencies early when considering a domicile in the region.
“Our [Investment Promotion Agencies’] responsibility extends far beyond marketing our countries. We exist to help investors identify opportunities, navigate regulatory processes and make informed investment decisions.”
The CEF was designed 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. Approximately 150 investors, officials, business leaders and project owners attended.
Founder of the CEF and Managing Partner of ACERO Capital, Gregory Hill, noted that participating institutions collectively represented more than US$24 trillion in assets, lending capacity and balance-sheet strength. More than 25 projects, forming part of a regional investment pipeline exceeding US$25 billion, were presented. Discussions covered energy, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, digital development and the blue economy.