The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will release two major studies to support the Region' economic growth agenda at the 47th Annual Meeting of its Board of Governors. The flagship event will be held in the Turks and Caicos Islands from May 24-25, 2017. “The studies will analyse two issues that are key to advancing economic growth in the Caribbean -regional productivity and Tourism industry reform. The findings of this research will provide countries in the Region with insights, data and information that could guide policymaking and action to facilitate sustainable growth," said Dr. Justin Ram, Director of Economics, CDB. One study is entitled, “Enhancing Productivity and Growth in the Caribbean". It will seek to identify the causes of low productivity and growth in the Region, and put forward recommendations for initiatives that could reverse this trend. Findings will be discussed at a seminar on May 24 during the Annual Meeting. Panellists from the public and private sectors will discuss policy initiatives that could substantially strengthen regional growth performance over the medium to long term. Panellists include Dr. Timothy Antoine, Governor, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; Nigel Baptiste, Managing Director of Republic Bank, Trinidad and Tobago; Jennifer Dotson-Isaacs, President, Caribbean Congress of Labour; the Honourable Gillmore Andre Hoefdraad, Minister of Finance, Government of Suriname; and Dr. Justin Ram. Findings from the second study, “Tourism Industry Reform, Strategies for Enhanced Economic Impact", will be presented during a seminar on May 25. Panellists will explore policy measures that could enhance resilience and increase the growth and development impact of Tourism. Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Government of Jamaica; Stacy Cox, Executive Director, Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association; Hugh Riley, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Tourism Organisation; and Dr. Amos Peters, Economist, CDB will participate in the panel. Both events will be livestreamed on CDB' YouTube channel, and the studies will be available for download on www.caribank.org after each seminar.