Business View Caribbean | September 2022

6 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 9, ISSUE 9 Our common agenda makes it very clear that partnerships and the drive of multilateralism is part of the solution only make progress by working together.” The coordinated efforts addressed by the letter of intent signed by CDB’s President and the UN Resident Coordinator will translate the broader commitments of both entities and allow the redirection of the development trajectory of the Caribbean, in alignment with national and regional priorities.   Mr Roberto Valent, UN Regional Director for the UN Development Coordination Office in Latin America and the Caribbean also spoke at the signing ceremony. He confirmed the UN´s commitment to the partnership and highlighted that the agreement allows the agencies to work with even greater focus and efficiency. “Our common agenda makes it very clear that partnerships and the drive of multilateralism is part of the solution.” The letter of intent will formalise the Bank’s relationship with the UN and focus on key areas for development. Priority sub-sectors highlighted under the new agreement are digitisation; the blue economy; regional trade and support for MSMEs; innovative and financing, aligning the financial flows to the region with the 2030 agenda; building resilience and addressing vulnerabilities, and data and knowledge generation. Both CDB and the UN are leading institutions supporting the achievement of the SDGs. The UN and CDB are currently seeking to increase finance to fund the region’s development through novel solutions and new partnerships to close the existing gaps to the SDGs and further accelerate sustainable development.  United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Didier Trebucq and Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon, President of Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), exchanging signed Letters of Intent at the Signing Ceremony at CDB Headquarters. Photo: © Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)