Financing Growth

2015 High Level Caribbean Forum
Venue: Frigate Bay, St. Kitts

September 3-4, 2015

The forum, the fourth in the series, will bring together Caribbean finance ministers and central bank governors, donors, and representatives from international financial institutions to exchange views on solutions to key economic problems facing the region. It will be hosted by the International Monetary Fund, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.

This year's forum will address three specific issues that are critical for growth: reducing energy costs, financing infrastructure, and improving access to credit for the productive sector.

Please book mark this page and check regularly. We will update the content frequently as we move closer to the Conference day.

Wednesday, September 2: Evening
7:00 – 10:00 pm

Registration and Opening Reception
Marriott Resort, St. Kitts and Nevis

Thursday, September 3: Morning
8:30 - 9:45 am

Opening Ceremony

Welcome Remarks: Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director, IMF
  Opening remarks

Remarks: The Honourable Sir K. Dwight Venner, Governor, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank

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

Remarks: Jorge Familiar, Vice President for Latin America & the Caribbean Region, World Bank

Official Opening: The Honourable Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
9:45 – 10:00 am

PHOTOS
10:00 – 10:15 am

PRESS DEPARTS; COFFEE
10:15 am – 12:45 pm

SESSION I: Caribbean Economic Outlook
 
  • Regional Economic Outlook, Alejandro Werner, Director, Western Hemisphere Department, IMF and Trevor Alleyne, Assistant Director, WHD
      Presentation
  • Plenary discussion

Session Moderator: Sir K. Dwight Venner, Governor of the ECCB

Thursday, September 3: Afternoon
12:45 – 2:15 pm

LUNCH
Hosted by Mr. Min Zhu
 

Keynote Address: Growth and Financial Markets: The Reality and Challenges by Min Zhu
2:15 pm – 3:35 pm

SESSION II: Meeting the Energy Challenge
 
  • Macro-Related Energy Challenges, Arnold McIntyre and Marcio Ronci, IMF
      Presentation
  • Meeting the Energy Challenge: Regulatory Reforms are Key Gerard Johnson, IADB
      Presentation
  • Plenary discussion

Session Moderator: Dr. Warren Smith, President, CDB
3:35 – 3:45 pm

COFFEE BREAK
3:50 pm – 5:00 pm

SESSION II: Meeting the Energy Challenge (continuation)
 
  • Elements of a Comprehensive Strategy: The St. Vincent and Grenadines Experience, The Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Promoting Foreign Investment: What are the Barriers? Lynn Tabernacki, OPIC
      Presentation
  • Plenary discussion

Session Moderator: Adrienne Cheasty, Deputy Director, WHD, IMF

Thursday, September 3: Evening
7:00 - 10:00 pm

RECEPTION at the Government House
Hosted by St. Kitts and Nevis Government

Friday, September 4: Morning
8:30 – 10:30 am

SESSION III: Banking Sector Issues
8:30 – 9:30 am

Improving Access to Credit for the Productive Sector

  • Should Commercial Banks be doing more? David Noel, Scotiabank
      Presentation
  • What Policies can Improve Firms' Access to Credit? Thierry Tressel, World Bank
      Presentation
  • Commentary by country participants
  • Plenary discussion

Session Moderator: Governor Brian Wynter (Jamaica)
9:30 – 10:30 am

Correspondence Banking issues

  • Correspondence Banking Relationships in the Caribbean: Policy Responses to the New Environment Charles Enoch and Jacques Bouhga-Hagbe, IMF
      Presentation
  • Commentary by country participants
  • Plenary discussion

Session Moderator: Governor Gobind Ganga (Guyana)
10:30 - 11:00 am

COFFEE
11:00 am – 12:30 pm

CLOSING SESSION: Reflections and Looking Ahead
 
  • Panel Discussion on Main Takeaways and Agenda Going Forward

Session Moderator: Serge Dupont, Executive Director, IMF
12:30 – 12:45 pm

Closing Remarks: IMF and Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
 

PRESS CONFERENCE