High Level Conference

Wednesday, October 22, 2014: Evening

7:00 – 10:00 pm

Registration and Opening Reception

Thursday, October 23: Morning

9:00 – 10:15 am

Welcome Remarks: Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director, IMF

Official Opening: The Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, ON, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica

Remarks: Dr. the Honourable Peter Phillips, MP, Minister of Finance and Planning

Remarks: Dr. Warren Smith, President, Caribbean Development Bank

Remarks: Jorge Familiar, Vice President, World Bank

10:15 – 10:30 am

PHOTOS

10:30 – 10:45 am

PRESS DEPARTS; COFFEE

10:45am – 1:00pm

SESSION I: Energy—Reliability and Costs

Session Moderator: Warren Smith, President CDB

• Improving energy efficiency and lowering costs in the Caribbean Ramon Espinasa, IDB   Presentation
• Leveraging Caribbean oil and gas resources for regional benefit Michael John, PetroTrin   Presentation
• Renewable energy in the Caribbean: opportunities and challenges Karl Nassief, CEO, Energy Management Systems Limited   Presentation
• Commentary: Hon. Ashni Singh, Minister of Finance, Guyana; Honorable Dr. Vin Lawrence, Chairman of the Electricity Sector Enterprise Team, Jamaica

Plenary discussion

Speakers

Thursday, October 23: Afternoon

Lunch

1:15 – 2:45 pm

Hosted by Min Zhu; Speaker: Taking Stock and Setting a Course for the Way Ahead: Alejandro Werner, Director, Western Hemisphere Department, IMF   Presentation

3:00 – 5:00 pm

SESSION II: A Tax Regime for Investment

Session Moderator: Inder Jit Ruprah, Regional Economic Adviser, IDB

• A tax system for investment: The Case of Mauritius Ali Mansoor, former Mauritius Financial Secretary   Presentation
• Do investors need tax incentives?: Sebastian James, Senior Tax Policy and Tax Administration Specialist, IFC   Presentation
• Strategies for regional tax incentive reform: cross-country lessons and experiences Russell Krelove, IMF   Presentation
• Commentary: Rosamund Edwards (Dominica), John Rolle (Bahamas)

Plenary discussion

Speakers

Thursday, October 23: Evening

7:30 - 10:30 pm

Reception at Rose Hall

Hosted by Dr. the Honourable Peter Phillips, MP, Minister of Finance and Planning

Friday, October 24: Morning

8:15 – 9:00 am

Breakfast

Keynote Speaker: “The Global Economic Environment: Opportunities and Constraints for Caribbean Growth”, Nouriel Roubini, Professor of Economics and International Business, NYU

9:00 – 11:00 am

SESSION III: Building Financial Sector Resilience

Session Moderator: Sophie Sirtaine, Caribbean Regional Director, World Bank

• Challenges for financial stability: risks and rewards: Ewart Williams, University of the West Indies   Presentation
• Financial Interconnectedness in the Caribbean: Elie Canetti, IMF   Presentation
• Strong banks: a Canadian perspective: Bruce Bowen, Senior VP, Caribbean, Scotiabank   Presentation
• International Financial Centers in the Global Economy Angelo Nikolakakis, Ernst & Young LLP   Presentation
• Commentary: Patrick Hylton, CEO National Commercial Bank of Jamaica

Plenary discussion

Speakers

11:00 - 11:30 am

COFFEE

11:30am – 1:00pm

CLOSING SESSION: Reflections and Looking Ahead

Session Moderator: [Serge Dupont, Executive Director, IMF]

• Panel Discussion on Main Takeaways and Agenda Going Forward
  Min Zhu, Deputy managing Director, IMF
  Dr. the Honourable Minister Peter Phillips, Jamaica
  Dr. Warren Smith, President, Caribbean Development Bank
  Gerard Johnson, Caribbean Country Director, IDB

1:00 – 1:15 pm

Closing Remarks: IMF and Government of Jamaica

PRESS CONFERENCE