BRIDGETOWN, Barbados—The Dominican Republic is set to host the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2027, following a partnership announcement between the Caribbean Export Development Agency and ProDominicana, the country’s export and investment promotion agency. This forum will mark the sixth edition of the event aimed at fostering investment in the Caribbean.
The collaboration seeks to enhance connections among businesses in CARIFORUM—which includes CARICOM nations and the Dominican Republic—regional stakeholders, and international investors. The primary goal of CIF is to transition Caribbean investment opportunities from initial promotion to securing financing and enabling growth.
Dr. Damie Sinanan, Executive Director of Caribbean Export, emphasized the significance of regional collaboration and ongoing engagement with investors. “Hosting CIF 2027 in the Dominican Republic presents an important opportunity to deepen regional investment partnerships and bring more Caribbean opportunities to the attention of global capital,” he stated. “Our ambition is to ensure that work between editions delivers stronger projects, sustained investor engagement, and meaningful progress towards investment.”
The upcoming forum builds on insights shared during CIF 2026 in Barbados, where Vladimir Pimentel, Executive Director of ProDominicana, discussed the nation’s strategies for attracting foreign direct investment. His contributions underscored the critical policies and conditions necessary for luring investment and fostering economic growth.
Pimentel welcomed the partnership, highlighting the chance to align the Dominican Republic’s investment efforts with broader Caribbean objectives. He remarked, “CIF 2027 will provide an important platform to showcase Dominican enterprise, exchange experience, and strengthen partnerships between our business communities.”
The announcement closely follows CIF 2026, which registered over 550 participants from about 29 countries. The forum facilitated more than 300 business-to-business meetings and 200 additional discussions between project owners and investors, resulting in over 500 business connections aimed at fostering collaboration.
CIF 2026 also featured potential projects valued at approximately US$39 million, with Caribbean Export and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization working to present eight investment-ready opportunities. The discussions at the forum focused on enhancing the conditions necessary for attracting investment and promoting women-led businesses.
Since its inception in Trinidad and Tobago in 2022, CIF has successfully gathered participants in The Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, and Barbados. Each edition has contributed to creating a regional pipeline of about 30 projects from 11 CARIFORUM nations, representing investment opportunities exceeding US$170 million. This pipeline highlights the necessity of converting these opportunities into actual financing and partnerships.
As preparations for CIF 2027 proceed, Caribbean Export will continue monitoring the partnerships and investment deals originating from the 2026 forum, acknowledging that formal evaluations and investor engagements often extend beyond the conference timeline. Details regarding the dates, venue, program, and participation for CIF 2027 will be released in due course.
