By KEILE CAMPBELL

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

The AFREXIMBANK’s annual meeting (AAM) and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2024 took place yesterday at Baha Mar’s convention centre, the first time the annual meeting has been held in the Caribbean.

The forum aims to “forge significant advancements in trade and investments, stimulating economic growth and driving profound societal change”.

Central Bank Governor John Rolle told reporters the forum is an opportunity for The Bahamas and Caribbean to connect to African countries and “emulate them where they can”.

“Any opportunity that we take advantage of, I think, where the private sector is able to grow their business through increased trade linkages I think is a good one, and I think the African case also illustrates that you have to think about trade as more than just shipping goods,” Mr Rolle said.

“A big part of what is traded today is services and expertise, and in the Caribbean region, we have lots of entities that are coming up, for example, in the fintech space. Bahamian and Caribbean firms are doing a lot internationally and making good footing in these markets as well.”

Mr Rolle said the Afreximbank has been active in the region “for several recent years” and has established offices and trade firms throughout the region.

Senior Vice President of Baha Mat Robert Sands said conferences of such “high profile and magnitude” are good for Baha Mar and The Bahamas, for they display the country’s ability to host “world-class events” and “put equity into The Bahamas brand.”

“Certainly we have the accommodations and the facilities not only here, but also on Paradise Island to be able to host these types of conferences,” Mr Sands said. “And it also shows the role The Bahamas plays in terms of being a leader to attract these multinational type conferences to this destination.”

According to Mr Sands, Baha Mar expects 3,000 people to attend the second day of the annual meeting, during which Prime Minister Davis is expected to speak.

“Certainly this shores up what would be traditionally a ‘shoulder period’ for us, and this type of business could not come at a better time to help us achieve the levels of occupancy that we’re looking forward to achieve this particular year,” Mr Sands said.