Shifting Tides: Challenges and Opportunities
2016 High Level Caribbean Forum
Venue: Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
November 2, 2016
The forum will bring together Caribbean prime ministers, finance ministers and central bank governors, donors, and representatives from international financial institutions and the private sector to exchange views on the unique challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean region. This year's forum will address global and regional challenges (growth, competitiveness, and oil prices), spillovers from Cuba, and policies to address de-risking. It will be hosted by the International Monetary Fund and the Trinidad and Tobago authorities.
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| Tuesday, November 1: Evening | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. | Registration and Opening ReceptionHosted by the International Monetary Fund |
| Wednesday, November 2: Morning | |
| 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. | Opening Ceremony |
| 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. | Opening Address: Global and Regional Challenges |
| 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Session I: Global and Regional Challenges (Growth, Competitiveness, And Oil Prices)This session will begin with a presentation by the International Monetary Fund on global challenges and their impact on the region. The focus will be on spillovers to the region from the current global conjuncture, including low global growth, competitiveness challenges, and fluctuations in oil and other commodity prices. The presentation is followed by a discussion among policymakers in the region, highlighting policy responses across the region.Question and Answers (30 minutes) |
| 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch |
Keynote Address: Prospects for the Caribbean | |
| Wednesday, November 2: Afternoon | |
| 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. | Session II: Spillovers from CubaThe session will explore the impact on the Caribbean tourism sector of on-going US-Cuba rapprochement. The opening of Cuba to tourists from the United States is likely to result in both challenges - in the form of diversion of tourists away from other Caribbean island destinations to Cuba – and opportunities. The session could also discuss other potential spillover channels such as through trade, foreign direct investment, and shipping.Question and Answers (30 minutes) |
| 3:00 - 3:15 p.m. | Coffee break |
| 3:15 – 4:45 p.m. | Session III: Policies to Address DeriskingFollowing up on global and regional initiatives to understand de-risking and its impact on the region, including by the International Monetary Fund, this session will take stock of policies aimed at mitigating the impact on the region. Likely options include clarifying international standards and regulatory expectations; furthering efforts to strengthen regulatory and supervisory frameworks in the region; and promoting possible shared industry solutions.Question and Answers (30 minutes) |
| 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Press Conference |
| Wednesday, November 2: Evening | |
| 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Reception |