Duguid hails first Saudi-Caribbean forum – NationNews Barbados – nationnews.com
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Senior Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. William Duguid, said the first Saudi-Caribbean Investment Forum held July 6-8 in the Dominican Republic was important for Barbados to demonstrate its “pro-business approach to potential investors.
Duguid led the Barbados delegation which also included Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag), Office of the Prime Minister, Paula Byer; Deputy Managing Director, Invest Barbados, Sandra Payne; and Foreign Service Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs, Disa Lewis.
About 60 Saudi companies with interests in a wide range of sectors, including banking and finance, construction, energy, healthcare, food and beverages, hospitality, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining and industry, wealth management and shipping, participated in the Forum.
Duguid said he was “satisfied with the caliber of investors present at the Forum, as well as their interest in investing in the Caribbean in general and Barbados in particular”.
He added that Barbados’ participation was a “clear signal to global investors of the government’s business-friendly approach to welcoming bottom-line businesses and attracting sustainable foreign direct investment from new markets.”
The forum, themed “Towards a New Era of Partnership for Socio-Economic Development,” attracted approximately 230 delegates, with 14 Caribbean countries showcasing their investment-ready projects.
It was a collaboration between the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, the Ministry of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic’s investment promotion agency, ProDominicana.
Deputy Minister of Investor Outreach at the Ministry of Investment Badr Al Badr led the Saudi delegation which also included Vice President of Investment Attraction and Development for the Americas Abdulrahman T. Bakir.
Several government entities in Saudi Arabia also participated, including the General Authority for Foreign Trade, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi Development Fund, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Tourism. .
(PR/AR)
