Colleagues, friends.
Today, I will highlight interventions financed by the Caribbean Development Bank that delivered meaningful results across Caribbean communities.
In 2025, we expanded our financing significantly. We approved 464 million United States dollars, a 50% increase over 2024, and disbursed 429 million dollars, 30% more than in 2024.
This financing unlocks stronger services, safer infrastructure, cleaner energy, and more resilient economies in an uncertain world. These investments are strategic interventions designed to protect development gains and build regional resilience.
Across the Caribbean, CDB continues to support the transformation of our region. From energy security to climate‑ready infrastructure, from water systems to world‑class airports, these new investments represent commitments to stronger economies, empowered people, and a Caribbean that is ready to compete on a global stage.
The following are key projects approved in 2025:
- 27 million to Belize Electricity Services for the Eighth Power Project to modernise its electricity grid, to benefit approximately 114,000 households and commercial customers.
- 30 million for Water Supply Improvement in the Bahamas, which will enhance access for approximately 5,000 people in the Family Islands. Also in the Bahamas, 6 million will be used to establish the Bahamas Polytechnic and Accreditation Training Hub, so that over 800 secondary graduates and other youth can be certified in industry-aligned skills training.
- 46 million to improve climate resilience at the Canouan Airport, which will support tourism development across the Grenadines.
- 8.7 million for the Grenada Battery Energy Storage System, which will enable grid stability and reduce fossil fuel reliance; support energy security and lower electricity costs to over 90% of the population.
- 47 million for the Barbados Grantley Adams International Airport Expansion Project, which will enhance operational efficiency, doubling passenger throughput capacity.
Despite a prolonged period of turbulence, Haiti remains a nation of extraordinary potential - rich in talent, culture, and untapped opportunity. CDB remains committed to making targeted investments that build a more hopeful future for its people.
The Quality Enhancement Education project was completed in 2025. The project supported over 17,000 students in primary and secondary schools (50 % girls).
Through a climate-resilient agriculture intervention, 250 farmers were trained (48% of whom were women), and a new 23.5-hectare irrigation scheme was implemented.
In energy, our solar power project in Haiti will provide access to customers in 3 rural municipalities and benefit over 2,000 customers by transitioning them to sustainable, renewable energy.
For more than four decades, the Basic Needs Trust Fund Programme has stood as the Bank’s flagship community development programme—bringing tangible change to the people who need it most. Under BNTF 10, that mission continued with renewed purpose, delivering impactful projects across the region and setting the stage for an even more ambitious new cycle. In the tenth cycle, we delivered 92 subprojects across 9 participating countries.
An excellent example of our impact is in Guyana, where BNTF partnered with the Government to build and equip the first Special Education Needs School in Essequibo Region 2. This facility now serves children with disabilities from nursery to secondary level, offering a safe, inclusive environment.
In 2025, a new BNTF Eleventh Programme Cycle was approved, with a commitment of 53.6 million dollars. This programme will be implemented over the next four years across 10 participating countries.
CDB continued to prioritise private sector development as essential for driving sustainable growth.
CDB’s DigiLab Finance Programme, delivered with the International Finance Corporation and the Caribbean Association of Banks, benefited over 3 million people by enhancing data analytics and financial services while reducing lending bias and costs across 10 institutions.
The Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund also expanded, supporting over 200 participants across 14 countries and awarding grants to 12 micro-small and medium-sized enterprises.
She Trades Caribbean Regional Hub supported over 1300 women-owned businesses through training, market access, and technical assistance.
At a time when development challenges are becoming more complex and interconnected, CDB continued to lead with ideas that shape the regional agenda. We brought regional and international partners together to share solutions and address common development challenges.
Through dialogue across education, gender equality, risk management, and sustainable infrastructure, we collectively explored how financial innovation, climate-responsive approaches and stronger institutional capacity can accelerate development outcomes.
As we move into the future, the Bank will continue to focus on our core sectors of transport, water and sanitation, education and sustainable energy. We will strengthen our focus on resilience, and the increased use of technology as catalyst for improved efficiency of service delivery. We will continue to work assiduously to improve project implementation and delivery. Our work in diagnosing implementation capacity challenges will therefore be critical, ensuring that countries not only design transformative projects but also implement them effectively.
Together, with our partners and the communities we serve, we will continue to deliver results that strengthen resilience and create lasting opportunities for our Caribbean people.
I thank you.
