How can the Caribbean mobilise more private capital, strengthen entrepreneurship, expand trade, and build more resilient economies?

Those were among the central questions explored at the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB/the Bank) inaugural Impact Room, an interactive engagement space that brought together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, development partners, financial institutions, and business leaders during the Bank’s 56th Annual Meeting in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Designed under the theme “Strategic Investment. Enduring Transformation”, the Impact Room was created to move beyond traditional exhibitions and create opportunities for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and action around some of the Caribbean’s most pressing development challenges.

Opening the event, CDB President Daniel M. Best underscored the critical role of the private sector in advancing economic transformation across the Region.

“The Caribbean’s developmental challenges cannot be addressed through public investment alone. The future resilience and competitiveness of our economies will depend significantly on the strength, innovation and capacity of the private sector. That is why this space matters.”

Over two days, stakeholders participated in a series of fireside conversations, networking engagements, programme showcases, and knowledge-sharing sessions focused on strengthening the enabling environment for enterprise development and investment across the Caribbean.

While discussions covered a wide range of issues, several common themes emerged.

Participants repeatedly highlighted the importance of mobilising greater levels of private capital to support growth-oriented businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Stakeholders also emphasised the need to strengthen regional trade and market integration, improve access to finance, leverage digital technologies, and create more effective pathways for entrepreneurship, innovation, and business growth.

The discussions reinforced a shared recognition that addressing the Region’s development challenges will require stronger partnerships among governments, development finance institutions, private investors, business support organisations, and entrepreneurs themselves.

Representatives from the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation, Compete Caribbean, the Bahamas Development Bank, Caribbean Export Development Agency, Sygnus Group, the Port Management Association of the Caribbean, The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation, and the Small Business Development Centre Bahamas joined CDB in exploring practical solutions to advance investment, competitiveness, and resilience.

A recurring theme throughout the event was the interconnected nature of the Caribbean’s development agenda. Stakeholders noted that efforts to improve trade facilitation, strengthen business ecosystems, expand access to finance, enhance digital readiness, and support climate resilience are mutually reinforcing and essential to building more productive and competitive economies.

The Impact Room also showcased the results of five flagship private sector initiatives implemented by CDB: Lending and Investment, the Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund, SheTrades Caribbean, the European Development Fund Economic Partnership Agreement Programme (EPA) and CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility for Capacity Building, and the Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services programme.

Collectively, these initiatives have expanded access to finance, strengthened enterprise capacity, increased export readiness, supported women-led businesses, and fostered innovation across the Region.

Through its Lending and Investment Programme alone, CDB has approved more than US$273 million to support over 3,100 businesses. Other initiatives have helped businesses improve competitiveness, access new markets, adopt technology, secure financing, and create employment opportunities throughout the Caribbean.

For Lisa Harding, Division Chief of CDB’s Private Sector Division, the true value of the Impact Room extended beyond showcasing programme achievements.

“We asked a simple question: ‘What if we brought the right people together in one room?’

“Some of the most important development opportunities begin with a conversation. An entrepreneur meets an investor. A government identifies a potential partner. A business discovers a new market opportunity. The Impact Room was designed to create those connections and to foster the dialogue necessary to move ideas into action.”

Harding noted that the discussions demonstrated a strong appetite among stakeholders for deeper collaboration and greater coordination in addressing barriers to investment and enterprise growth.

“What emerged over the two days was a shared recognition that no single institution can drive transformation on its own. Sustainable development requires partnership, collaboration, and a willingness to work across sectors. The conversations held here reinforced the importance of building stronger ecosystems that enable businesses to start, scale, innovate, and compete.”

As CDB advances implementation of its Strategic Plan 2026-2035, the Bank remains committed to strengthening private sector development as a key pillar of economic resilience and sustainable growth across its Borrowing Member Countries.

The Impact Room demonstrated not only the results of ongoing investments, but also the power of convening stakeholders around a common vision for the Caribbean’s future – one built on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, and partnership.

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