The need for dialogue on the role of the private sector in building a resilient Caribbean Region has been described as critical by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Vice President (Operations), Dr. Carla Barnett. Dr. Barnett made the remarks at the inaugural Compete Caribbean Regional Consultative Forum (RCF) and Strategic Regional Dialogue on Private Sector Development in the Caribbean, at the Cave Hill School of Business, the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill Campus) in Barbados. "The need for a dynamic, productive and driven private sector to emerge as the main engine of economic growth has become even more urgent. It is, therefore, opportune for development partners, working alongside national, sub-Regional and Regional players to leverage the available financial and technical resources to create the conditions which can produce this change," she told those in attendance. CDB was among several Regional organisations which participated in the inaugural event which included leaders and senior representatives from the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat, the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), the Caribbean Centre for Competitiveness (CCfC), the Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), Canada's International Development Agency (CIDA), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank and the Compete Caribbean Program. The Forum provided an opportunity for Regional organisations to gain a better understanding of the work being done regarding private sector development in the Region, and to identify areas for synergies, and more importantly, voids that require future action. Additionally, the Forum facilitated dialogue on the issues of logistics and connectivity, skills, productivity and innovation, and promising sectors and their promotional instruments. Previous Next Go to slide 1Go to slide 2Go to slide 3