Webinar “Implementing A Digital Catalyst for Caribbean Prosperity”

Background

The Caribbean region faces severe structural financial challenges, including limited financial connectivity, high transaction costs together with low transaction speed, and dependency on foreign correspondent banks and the US dollar for cross-border transfers. These hurdles restrict regional trade, in particular the development of CARICOM’s Vision 25 by 2025 food and nutrition security initiative and slow the progress of the digital CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). 

Complementary currencies offer a solution to these barriers by providing additional liquidity, facilitating seamless cross-border transactions, and supporting economic resilience. Furthermore, they may be designed in a manner to foster regional development by appropriately adjusting their core parameters. Carib$, a Caribbean digital, asset-backed complementary currency, has proven its functionality in 2024 several times and at the same time has generated significant interest amongst multilaterals and within the agricultural sector. 

Purpose and Objective of Webinar 

The purpose of the webinar is to explore and demonstrate how Carib$ can act as a catalyst for regional economic development.

Objectives:

1. Educate participants about the potential value propositions of complementary currencies, specifically Carib$, for regional economic development.
2. Highlight progress on the introduction of Carib$ and its alignment with regional priorities such as the digital CSME and Vision 25 by 2025 and presented in a proposed roadmap. 
3. Foster discussion among key regional stakeholders on pathways to leverage Carib$ for economic transformation, particularly in agriculture, digital trade, and financial inclusion. 
4. Add elements to the roadmap for integrating Carib$ into the broader CARICOM economic framework.

Format and Outline of Webinar 

The webinar will consist of featured presentations, a multi-stakeholder panel discussion, and an interactive Q&A session.

Duration: 2 hours
Proposed Platform: Zoom
Proposed Date & Time: March 21, 2025; 10.00 AM -12.00 PM AST

Target Audience  

This webinar is designed for:

• Policymakers from CARICOM member states.
• Financial sector leaders and regulators
• CARICOM business community, particularly in agriculture and ICT.
• Academics and students focused on regional development and financial innovation.

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Implementing A Digital Catalyst for Caribbean Prosperity Webinar

Provisional Agenda (Download)

TIME	EVENT	SPEAKER
10:00	Welcome	Mr. Rodney Taylor Secretary-General, CTU
10:05	Overview and Introductions	Moderator
10:10	Opening Remarks: The Role of Digital Financial Innovation in Advancing the CSME	Dr. Wendell Samuel, Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM
10:20	Keynote Presentation: The Economic Case for Complementary Currencies in Regional Development	Mr. Franco Contu (TBC), Sardex Pay
10:35	Presentation:  Carib$: A Practical Tool for Economic Resilience and Growth in the Caribbean	Dr. Jan Schröder Founder – Carib$
10:50	Panel: The Road to Integration	Moderator: Michele Marius, ICT Pulse Panelists: Mr. Aldwyn Jordan (TBC) Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Barbados Mr. Pascal Lamy (TBC) Member of the Caricom Commission on the Economy Mr. John Outridge Chief Executive Officer The Trinidad and Tobago Financial Centre Dr. Patrick Antoine Chief Executive Officer CARICOM Private Sector Organisation Hon. Saboto Cesar Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour St. Vincent and the Grenadines
11:20	Question and Answer segment
11:40	Wrap and Closing Remarks	Mr. Rodney Taylor, CTU
12:00	END OF SESSION

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