GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Dr. Irfaan Ali Saturday held talks with the president of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Hyginus Leon, on strengthening the role of the Region’s premier financial institution.
A statement issued following the talks, also attended by CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, noted that the discussions were on strengthening the role of the CDB as a partner in providing project financing and development support to the Region.
Ali, also the chairman of the 145-member regional integration movement, reaffirmed the importance of CDB as a regional institution and development partner and expressed confidence in its capacity to provide the support its borrowing member countries (BMC) needed in pursuing their sustainable development agendas.
Ali stressed the need for increased responsiveness to the Region’s needs, proactiveness in program development and project delivery, and streamlining operations to shorten the period between project identification, approval, and completion.
For his part, the CDB president spoke of the work being done by the bank to develop a more strategic focus on resilient regional development priorities and on the mobilization of financial resources, which could result in more affordable financing of projects.
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