CARIF delivers two days of dynamic debate, high-level interviews, incisive panel discussions, deep-dive workshops and extraordinary opportunities for connection and networking.
Leading players will debate the most pressing topics in the Caribbean infrastructure space including:
How to incentivize the flow of private finance to sustainable and resilient infrastructure projects? Is now the time for PPPs?
What does effective long-range national planning for infrastructure investment look like in today’s day and age?
Delivering on modern and integrated transportation infrastructure
How to address the need for expanded and modern transmission infrastructure
Digital Infrastructure Revolution: How to prioritize investment for maximum impact
What should the future of Caribbean healthcare look like and how do we deliver?
Addressing cybersecurity across sectors
Developing a robust and qualified workforce for modern infrastructure development and operation
The challenges and solutions required for water and wastewater management
Plus, sector updates and opportunities: transportation, ports and airports, water, healthcare, and more
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 and networking-enhanced thematic roundtables.
Women in Caribbean Energy & Infrastructure Coffee Hour
We’re excited to introduce a new feature to the CARIF program: the Women in Caribbean Energy & Infrastructure Coffee Hour! In collaboration with RMI | The Women In Renewable Energy (WIRE) Network, this complimentary pre-CARIF event on Monday, September 23 is designed for women and allies who champion the advancement of women and diversity in the regional infrastructure industry. Join us for a relaxed networking session, where you can connect, unwind, and engage with the #CARIF community.
You will be provided with the option to register for the Coffee Hour when you register for CARIF.
Is Investment in Infrastructure Poised to Take Off?
After years of fiscal challenges, some regional governments are seeing the results of effective policy. Where is the opportunity to place effective infrastructure upgrades and expansion high on the list of expenditures? How can regional governments drive forward the infrastructure pipeline? How can the private and multilateral communities support efforts? What are the key investments needed to deliver long-term economic growth and resilience?
KPMG International Global Head of Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare (IGH)Moderator
Financing a More Resilient Power Grid
Transmission infrastructure updates and expansion are critical across the whole region. As we strive to deliver cleaner and more secure energy, what are the priorities for grid modernization? How can we ensure reliable integration of renewables and battery storage? How can we guarantee access to more remote population centers? Additionally, what financial models will deliver a glide path to successful deployment? And who is responsible for the cost?
RMI Islands Energy Program Projects Director Global SouthModerator
Networking and Refreshments
Presentation: Cybersecurity for Critical National Infrastructure
Cyber risk is of increasing concern for Caribbean governments, businesses and critical infrastructure. What are the real risks to Caribbean infrastructure and associated services? What is the potential impact on investment appetite for project development? Who should be driving and financing efforts to increase cybersecurity? What is the role of regulation in ensuring effective cybersecurity? How can we increase resilience and be ready for rapid incident response?
Looking more deeply and broadly into available financing solutions. Who are the new players, investment funds or sovereign wealth funds, for example – and what are they looking for in terms of transactions? What is the opportunity for collaboration with regional commercial lenders and multilateral development banks? What trends are we seeing in financial models for infrastructure development and what is driving these developments? Above all, where are the opportunities for investment for all industry players?
Dentons Delany Chair and Chief Managing PartnerModerator
Where is Caribbean Infrastructure on ESG?
Stakeholders, such as banks, investors, regulators have increasing sustainability expectations. But what is sustainability in the context of infrastructure? Isn’t all infrastructure sustainable? What are the challenges in transitioning to more sustainable infrastructure and how would sustainability be measured and managed across the E, S & G?
Tourism Resurge: Investing in the Infrastructure to Protect the Caribbean’s Life Blood
How can governments and industry stakeholders ensure a growing and sustainable tourism sector for years to come, and to the benefit of island populations? How do we ensure resilience, in its broadest definition, is built into infrastructure planning? How do we protect the region’s unique natural resources?
Part I: Digital Gender & Infrastructure Toolkit-Practical Tools & Strategies for Gender and Inclusion
How to make the business case and to implement gender and inclusion policy and practice, from workforce development, to supply chain management, community outreach and more.
Part II: Infrastructure Solutions for Gender Equality
For infrastructural investments to be truly transformative, they must benefit everyone. This requires a significant shift in how these investments are conceptualised, executed, and managed. How can the industry ensure a gender lens in terms of availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality? What are potential gender-responsive features and solutions of infrastructure investments?
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) Senior AssociateModerator
Strengthening Regional Transportation Infrastructure: Roads, Ports and Airports
Demand on regional transport infrastructure is growing, related to tourism, as well as to serve the needs of island populations. Where are the key pressure points? How can we invest in modern infrastructure that uses more resilient design and materials, and supports long-term need? How, and who, can deliver integrated, customer-centric infrastructure and ensure safety? What project structures and financing models are working best for Caribbean transport infrastructure? What lessons can be drawn from more challenging developments and how can we replicate success stories for new regional airports, ports and road networks?
The World Bank Regional Director for Infrastructure, Latin America and the Caribbean RegionModerator
Refreshments
Securing the Economic Opportunity of Coastal Resources and Biodiversity
The region must protect crucial resources- coastlines and reefs- for example, but must also address climate-related challenges facing cities and industry, such as coastal erosion and rising sea-levels? What investments are needed to address these critical challenges? And who bears the responsibility to address and pay for these solutions? Who reaps the benefits? What innovative financing solutions could be deployed as solutions?
The challenge is more pressing than ever, as climate change increases water scarcity, and unsatisfactory wastewater management threatens the health of local populations and the tourism industry. What policy, design, and funding is needed to remedy the situation and how will these solutions be financed?
What is the best way to make targeted investments and address water challenges without spiking rates for consumers?
What does island health and care look like that directly serves the needs of communities? Are centralized, high-tech hospitals a priority? Or should focus be placed on community health and digital services? As a region, how can we ease the burden on patients when cross island or intra-regional treatment is required? How can governments support this type of care? In the case of climate events, how can we ensure that healthcare remains operational? As we assess the best models for future healthcare, we look at the financing paradigms to deliver on these ambitions.
KPMG Islands Group | KPMG International Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences | Global Co-Lead, Health Equity & Access in Developing MarketsModerator
Are Insurers Prepared to Insure Major Infrastructure Projects?
The cost of insurance is skyrocketing, and access to insurance for property and projects in the region is increasingly challenging. This session takes a closer look at the dynamics of Caribbean insurance and long-term prospects to insure major infrastructure developments. Will insurers be willing to insure major projects? Will the cost of insurance become prohibitively expensive? What role should governments be expected to play to cover the gap? How will this dynamic impact project viability and the infrastructure pipeline?
KPMG in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Director, Deal AdvisoryModerator
Integrative Infrastructure: Bridging Planning, Transport, Food Security and Housing for a Resilient Cayman Islands
Honourable Jay Ebanks, Minister for Planning, Agriculture, Housing, Infrastructure, Transport & Development, will detail the Cayman vision and strategy as it relates to the national development planning. Ranging from approaches to road design and construction; public housing and food security, Minister Ebanks will lay out the efforts towards, and opportunities related to, Cayman development.
CIBC Caribbean Director, Corporate Banking - BVI and Cayman IslandsModerator
Refreshments and Networking
Sustainable Development: How Does Investment In Sustainability Translate Into Economic Wins For the Private Sector?
How and to what extent is the private sector committing to sustainability? We look at best practices for sustainable infrastructure, such as energy efficiency, sustainable materials, and sourcing of materials. What returns are we seeing? Is the tourism sector opting into sustainability at scale? What support do they need in terms of government policy, regulation, and incentive?
Food Security: Ensuring the Supply Chain with Better Infrastructure
Food security for island nations has always been a major challenge, exacerbated recently by devastating effects of hurricane Beryl. What infrastructure build is needed to secure local food production and how can we reduce logistical inefficiencies? Where are the key bottlenecks in ports, internal transport infrastructure, import procedures, etc that need to be overcome for more secure access? What can be done to support more robust intra-regional transport? Where are/should investments being directed to support infrastructure build out and support farmers, especially in response to damage from 2024 hurricanes? How can climate smart agricultural practices and resilient infrastructure be prioritized? How can the implementation of digitization in infrastructure facilities strengthen the supply chain for food?
KPMG in The Bahamas Managing Director, AdvisoryModerator
Moving the Infrastructure Needle with PPPs: The Drivers, Approaches and Lessons Learned in Jamaica’s Infrastructure Strategy
Jamaica has focused on solidifying its economy and now is on accelerating infrastructure development to serve Jamaican citizens, industries, and tourists alike. To do so, the administration is pursuing an ambitious PPP program, supported and guided by IFC’s PPP team. In this conversation with Dr. Nigel Clarke, Minister of Finance and Public Service, he will discuss Jamaica’s infrastructure strategy, the reasons for pursuing PPPs to deliver infrastructure and lessons other Caribbean nations may draw from for their own strategies.
IFC Caribbean Hub Lead and Senior Investment Officer, PPP Transaction Advisory
Lunch and Close of Sessions
Workshop I: The “Perfect” Procurement Process for Major Infrastructure Projects
Hosted by KPMG and Stantec
This workshop will draw upon lessons learned from procurement processes around the region and determine what approaches result in the best outcomes. Looking at elements such as transparency, bid evaluation, business case requirements, project size, long-term planning and more, the workshop will aim to develop a guide that benefits both sides of the procurement process, through open and honest dialogue between the public and private sectors.
Key topics to be covered:
Procurement Methods & Thresholds
Direct Procurement
3-Bidder Process
Portal RFP
RFP Content & Bid Evaluation
Structuring Effective RFPs
Criteria for Bid Evaluation
Major Project Procurement
Developing Business Cases & Conducting Environmental Impact Assessments
Master Planning
Comparing Traditional Procurement vs. PPP Approaches
KPMG International Global Head of Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare (IGH)
Workshop II: Sustainable Finance and Carbon Trading
Hosted by CIBC Caribbean
This workshop will share insights on the latest trends in sustainable financing globally. It will cover case studies on developing sustainable or green frameworks that support access to a wider investor base and used as a tool for policy signaling related to environmental and social initiatives. The workshop will also address the carbon market trends and the potential to support and drive sustainable initiatives and how this can be beneficial.
