Antigua And Barbuda Announces Its Interest In Joining CAF

• At the United Nations (UN) Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) meeting, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, made a significant move by signing a declaration of intent to join CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Antigua and Barbuda's intention to join CAF marks a strategic move toward accessing vital long-term financial resources and technical cooperation grants aimed at advancing sustainable development. Collaborative efforts with CAF will primarily target critical areas such as climate action, green growth, sustainable tourism, energy transition, and the blue economy.
• "We are very happy to celebrate Antigua and Barbuda's intention to join CAF," said Gaston Browne. "We are fully aligned and ready to work together on the opportunities that CAF can provide to small Caribbean islands like Antigua and Barbuda to achieve greater well-being for their inhabitants."
• CAF's Executive President, Sergio Díaz-Granados, remarked, "The growing partnership between Antigua and Barbuda and CAF demonstrates our commitment to providing Caribbean SIDS with new options for development financing to support the Caribbean with tackling development issues that are affecting their communities."
• CAF was established in 1970 by six Andean countries: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Since then, its shareholder base has expanded to include 21 countries and 13 private banks. With assets exceeding $53Bn and a project portfolio surpassing $34Bn, CAF stands as one of the primary sources of multilateral financing in the region.
• Currently, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados represent the CARICOM member countries of CAF. The Bahamas, Dominica, and Grenada also have access to the technical, financial, and knowledge services offered by the organisation.

(Source: CAF)