Good morning and welcome. Today, we launch the Caribbean Development Bank’s 55th Annual Meeting theme and logo. It is both an honor and a privilege to stand before you today as we embark on what promises to be a pivotal moment in our collective journey towards a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Caribbean.

The theme for this year’s meeting, “Building the Future: Resilient Institutions for a Greener, Stronger, and Inclusive Caribbean,” is not just a slogan. Strong institutions are needed to drive implementation of critical projects that improve lives and livelihoods. They are needed to facilitate the development of a new dynamic, diverse internationally competitive private sector. 

There is no path to the realisation of the just energy transition without resilient and innovative institutions. The importance of these institutions is not exclusively linked to these two sectors, they are needed in every aspect of our countries’ development.  The theme for this year’s Annual Meeting therefore represents our collective ambition and commitment to respond to the critical challenges facing our people by reimagining how we make our institutions more fit-for-purpose.

From June 9 to 12, 2025, we will converge in Brazil’s vibrant capital city, Brasilia, as a unified Bank.  Together with our development partners, we will craft transformational long-term solutions, which will shape our 10-year strategic plan, and inform how we better serve the people of the Region. The choice of Brazil as our host is significant. Brazil’s extensive experience and culture of innovation present us with the opportunity to deepen our cooperation and leverage Latin America’s strengths to support the Caribbean’s development agenda.

Our discussions in Brasília will center on actionable and transformational strategies, highlighting the "rebirth" of the Bank as it evolves to meet the changing needs of its member countries amidst rapidly shifting global and multilateral paradigms. Our goal is to create institutions that can withstand external pressures while paving the way for equitable prosperity.

Later this year, Brazil will also host the world for the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP30). This alignment allows us to synchronise our efforts on climate action, maximising our collective impact on sustainability.

The Bank’s Annual Meeting will bring together our Board of Governors, led by Chairperson Ms. Viviane Vecchi Mendes Muller, Brazil’s Deputy Secretary for International Affairs and Development at the Ministry of Planning and Budget, who shares the stage with me today.

The agenda includes addressing the climate crisis, from the scale of the financing needs to the urgency of building resilient communities. We will have honest conversations on not merely private sector engagement, but the role of the private sector in delivering regional development outcomes, and what we in the multilateral community must do to create an ecosystem that fosters a robust competitive private sector. These priorities are in line with Brazil’s vision for regional cooperation and align seamlessly with the mission of the Bank.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to transforming the lives of our people by building resilient institutions, which are essential to sustainable development. The upcoming discussions are designed to strategically position the Caribbean Region to adapt and thrive in an evolving global landscape.

To ensure these critical conversations reach a global audience, all public sessions of our 55th Annual Meeting will be streamed live.

Ultimately, the 55th Annual Meeting marks a significant step in strengthening our institutions and advancing our shared vision for a greener, more resilient, and inclusive Caribbean. I look forward to engaging meaningfully with our Board members, representatives of the Brazilian Government, and esteemed guests at this flagship event.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Chairperson and the Government of Brazil for graciously hosting our 55th Annual Meeting. 

Thank you.