Today, November 20, 2013, development partners - the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB), and the World Bank Group (WBG), continue their explorations of the role of public-private partnerships (PPP) in contributing to the Region's sustainable economic growth during a two-day conference - Caribbean PPP Forum: Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Growth. The conference which commenced yesterday, November 19, 2013 is underway at the Hilton Barbados. The PPP Forum is the first of its kind in the Caribbean with participants from over 65 public sector agencies and key multilateral institutions. During the forum participants will share knowledge on using PPPs to develop sustainable and productive infrastructure and basic services in the Caribbean —while at the same time protecting these assets against climate risk, reducing carbon footprints, and generating new business opportunities related to climate change. Discussion topics include: Towards a Best Practice Approach to PPPs in the Caribbean, Opportunities and Challenges for PPPs in the Caribbean, Developing PPP Programs in the Caribbean, Structuring and Financing PPPs in the Caribbean, Infrascope and Climatescope, The Challenge of Climate Resilience and Related Business Opportunities and Next Steps for PPP in the Caribbean. The Forum was launched yesterday with an opening ceremony. Speakers included Mr. Joel Branski, Country Representative for Barbados, IDB; Mr. Richard Cabello, Manager, PPP Advisory Services for Latin America and the Caribbean, International Finance Corporation, WBG; Mr. Kurt Kisto, Executive Director for the Caribbean, IDB; Dr. Warren Smith, President, CDB; and Senator Jepter Ince, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs- Barbados. CAPTION: During his address, CDB President, Dr. Warren Smith said the Bank has commenced a major research project entitled ‘Public-Private Partnerships in the Caribbean: Lessons of Experience and Leveraging for Growth' in response to the dearth of Caribbean-specific research on PPP performance and operations.