Agenda

CARIF 2025 offers two impactful days of forward-thinking discussions, high-level interviews with top leaders, incisive panel discussions, in-depth workshops, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Leading players will tackle the most critical issues shaping the Caribbean’s infrastructure landscape, including:

Geopolitics, the world economy, and the implications for Caribbean infrastructure
Mobilizing Private Capital: Is investor appetite for Caribbean assets on the rise?
How can the region better leverage PPPs for infrastructure?
Delivering energy security through grid resilience
The persistent challenge of NRW: designing and financing effective programs to reduce losses
Deep Dive – Guyana – big plans for infrastructure
Is infrastructure keeping up with the tourism boom?
Sustainable aviation and airport infrastructure development as a driver of economic growth
Digitalization & Connectivity: A conversation on trends, successes and shortcomings in the Caribbean
Food Security & the economic opportunity of agriculture
Best practices to bolster health infrastructure in the Caribbean

Away from the CARIF Main Stage, we invite attendees to meet the market through numerous structured and unstructured networking opportunities, including the fountain-side cocktail reception, networking-enhanced thematic roundtables and deep-dive workshops, and to celebrate achievements over the past year in the annual CARIF Awards ceremony.

Tuesday

September 16

8:00-8:45

Registration and Exhibition

8:45-9:00

Chairperson Welcome & Interactive Scene Setter

9:00-9:30

Interactive Scene-Setter: Geopolitical Shifts, Volatility, and the Impact on Caribbean Infrastructure

Guided by three industry experts, we take an honest look at the reality of the market. This interactive session, structured around audience polling, will discuss global economic dynamics, the impact on the Caribbean infrastructure space and best adaptation strategies.

How can infrastructure investment be used as a tool for economic resilience and inclusive growth in the Caribbean?
What forecasting tools and data insights are needed to navigate rising costs and shifting capital flows?
Where are the emerging opportunities for strategic infrastructure development in a constrained global economy?

9:30-10:15

Ministers Talk: Infrastructure as a Driver of Economic Growth

The annual CARIF Ministerial panel featuring a high-level exchange on:

National infrastructure priorities and flagship projects underway across the region
Development strategies aimed at modernization, sustainability, and investment readiness
Regional cooperation initiatives focused on energy security, food resilience, and connectivity—both physical and digital

10:15-11:00

Securing the Flow of Funding into Caribbean Infrastructure: Who Is Stepping Up and Stepping In?

Amid geopolitical shifts and fiscal pressure, how can the Caribbean region secure a steady, reliable flow of funding to support essential infrastructure projects?

How can the region diversify funding sources to reduce reliance on any single donor or partner and build long-term funding resilience?
What near-term strategies can fill funding gaps for priority projects?
How does the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0 reshape access to development and climate-related funding for Caribbean nations?
What role do cost-recovery tools—such as user tariffs, government subsidies, and donor contributions—play in enabling financially sustainable service delivery?
How is the landscape of Chinese public-sector funding and grant-making evolving in the region, and what are the implications for strategic alignment and governance?
How can Caribbean governments strengthen institutional capacity to deploy funding more efficiently?

11:00-11:45

Refreshments and Networking

11:45-12:30

Is Investor Appetite for Caribbean Assets on the Rise?

What do investors want to see from the region to increase their investment confidence? How can increased private sector participation, and the associated innovative know-how, impact the infrastructure pipeline?

The importance of guarantors is increasing in delivering successful transactions. Will this trend continue?
What innovations in financing mechanisms and programs have been most successful and what is on the horizon?
How can the region attract new investors to the space, specifically institutional investors?

12:30-1:00

Keynote Interview: Guyana’s Ambitious Infrastructure Agenda

As Guyana works to bridge its infrastructure gap in step with its rapid economic growth, what is the long-term vision—and what near-term priorities will ensure the delivery of resilient, citizen-focused development?

When can we expect the launch of a comprehensive national infrastructure plan, and what are its headline goals?
How is the administration operationalizing its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), and what are the key milestones on the horizon?
With connectivity a national priority, how will ongoing investments in roads and bridges transform transportation and trade—regionally and nationally?
What role are multilateral institutions playing in supporting Guyana’s infrastructure transformation, particularly in areas of transport resilience, energy modernization, and climate adaptation?

1:00-2:15

Networking Lunch

2:15-2:30

IDB InfraScope: And the Region’s PPP Profile

Presentation of the research, focusing on enabling environments and readiness for PPP

2:30-3:00

Case-Study: How Can the Region Better Leverage PPPs for Infrastructure?

Via two case studies, this session considers the evolving nature and expanded use of PPPs for Caribbean infrastructure.

Innovative contract structures for risk allocation: What is working best?
What structures must be in place to attract maximum private investment?
How to optimize service delivery and operational efficiencies, especially in critical infrastructure
Leveraging PPPs to meet climate and resilience goals

3:00-3:45

Delivering Energy Security and Grid Resilience: Essential Elements for Growth

Energy access and cost define the economic opportunity across islands. How are regional governments, utilities, developers and multilateral partners supporting initiatives to ensure reliable and affordable energy?

Reviewing modernizations underway or in the pipeline
How can utilities employ more innovative technologies for grid resilience? What is the role of AI in this space?
What are the newest developments in microgrids?
Regional initiatives for energy security: What does a successful roadmap look like?

3:45-4:30

Tackling Water Infrastructure Challenges With Fresh Solutions

How can islands design and finance more effective programs to modernize water and waste-water systems? How can the region lean into innovations in technology and financing structures?

The persistent challenge of NRW: What is working to reduce losses?
Desalination and the clean energy need: What are the most economically viable solutions?
What innovative financing solutions can be pursued to modernize aging water infrastructure and build new facilities on islands?
Case study review

4:30-5:15

Harnessing AI & Digital Innovation for Smarter Island Infrastructure

As Caribbean nations seek to modernize infrastructure and improve service delivery, how can digital innovation and AI accelerate this transformation? Guided by polling and expert commentary, this session examines the strategic integration of AI, e-Government tools, and digital infrastructure solutions to improve project design, execution, and long-term maintenance—tailored specifically to island realities.

What are the most impactful applications of AI and digital tools in the Caribbean infrastructure landscape today?
How can island states adapt global smart infrastructure solutions to fit local needs and capacities?
What role can digital twins play in planning and sustaining smarter infrastructure systems?
How can multilateral partners and the private sector collaborate to support this digital transition?

5:15-6:00

Mitigating Maritime Environmental Impact: Caribbean Ports’ Emerging Policies and Practices

As cruise and cargo shipping strive to decarbonize, how are regional ports supporting sustainability?

What trends are we seeing in sustainability-linked infrastructure being included in port development and modernization?
What will be the impact of introducing shore-power and increasing LNG bunkering and supply availability?
How can these initiatives be expanded across the region and what financial and technical support is required?
Are island governments planning for an associated energy demand spike from the maritime sector? How can they prepare?

6:00-6:15

CARIF Award Ceremony & Winner Showcase

6:15-8:00

Chairperson Day One Conclusions & Networking Cocktail Reception

Wednesday

September 17

8:00-8:50

CARIF ‘Rise and Shine’ Roundtables

Grab a coffee, pick your table, and join these lightly moderated conversation and networking sessions.

8:00-8:50

Table I: What Delivers Real Regional Connectivity? Airlift vs Hub & Spoke?

Rise and Shine Roundtable

Table II: How Can Social Infrastructure Drive Equity and Urban Resilience in the Caribbean?

Rise and Shine Roundtable

8:00-8:50

Table III: Developing Effective Strategies to Close Capacity Gaps in the Caribbean

Rise and Shine Roundtable

Table IV: How Can the Caribbean Retrofit Its Infrastructure for Efficiency and Resilience?

Rise and Shine Roundtable

8:00-8:50

Table V: How Can the Caribbean Build True Coastal Resilience Amid Rising Risks?

Rise and Shine Roundtable

Table VI: What Will It Take to Modernize Caribbean Road Networks?

Rise and Shine Roundtable

9:00-9:05

Chairperson Remarks

9:05-9:50

Is Infrastructure Keeping Up with the Tourism Boom?

As tourism surges across the region, this session will explore whether infrastructure is keeping pace with demand and how destination development strategies must evolve.

What are the critical infrastructure gaps tied to tourism growth?
How can destinations build and finance infrastructure that supports long-term sustainability?
What workforce development solutions are needed to scale the sector responsibly?
How should policymakers respond to the rise of cruise company private islands—and the implications for local economies?

9:50-10:30

Sustainable Aviation and Airport Infrastructure Development as a Driver of Economic Growth and Development

Prioritizing sustainable aviation and modernized airport infrastructure can be a catalyst for regional growth—so how do we turn that vision into reality?

Assessing innovations in green aviation technology, airport resilience, and low-carbon infrastructure investments
How can we unlock long-term benefits via more effective policy, financing, and public-private partnerships?
Projected impact on job creation, tourism and trade expansion
What are the most actionable strategies for aligning aviation development with climate goals and economic opportunity?

10:30-10:45

Refreshments and Networking

10:45-11:30

Resilient Health Systems: Building Caribbean Healthcare Infrastructure for the Future

This session explores both physical and digital healthcare infrastructure needs across Caribbean islands, examining innovative approaches to create accessible, efficient, and climate-resilient health systems.

What strategic healthcare facility developments (hospitals, clinics, specialized care centers) are underway, and where do critical infrastructure gaps remain that require immediate attention?
Beyond buildings: How can the region strengthen healthcare supply chains through policy reforms, regional cooperation, and innovative logistics solutions?
Digital transformation: Leveraging telemedicine, electronic health records, and AI-powered diagnostics to overcome geographical barriers and enhance healthcare quality and access
Climate resilience by design: Engineering healthcare facilities with integrated backup systems for power, water, and communications to maintain essential services during extreme weather events

11:30-12:15

Strengthening Food Security and Expanding the Economic Opportunity of Agriculture

Food security is a crucial element of the region’s resilience. How can islands, and the region as a whole, develop policies, practices and infrastructure to ensure access to sufficient fresh and affordable food, and turn agriculture into a driver of economic growth?

What innovations in agriculture and supporting logistics can increase food security? Looking at practices such as vertical farming- How can scale be achieved and have region-wide impact?
What import substitutions are most deliverable and how can governments incentivize these practices?
What is needed to developing better intra-regional agricultural trade: Policies, transport, agricultural storage
Leveraging private sector technological advances and smart agriculture

12:15-12:50

Strengthening Global Connectivity With Telecommunications Infrastructure

The telecom industry is of critical importance for regional competitiveness. What opportunities are there for infrastructure investment to ensure that the Caribbean remains connected and competitive?

Where is the region on digital readiness in comparison to other regions?
Is the region prepared for cyber security risks and potential impact on industry? What more needs to be done?
What solutions exist to build resiliency to business interruption risks? Are we seeing a trend towards investment in satellite telecoms to address this issue?

12:50-1:30

Unlocking Funds for Conservation

Conservation and biodiversity protection are crucial to supporting tourism and island economies.

How can the region increase access to finance for conservation and biodiversity initiatives?
What innovative approaches are proving successful?
Diving into two transactions, we take a look at innovative approaches to drive funding to Caribbean conservation

1:30-2:30