This webinar covered the response of investment promotion agencies (IPAs) in the Caribbean to the Coronavirus pandemic and changes induced by the COVID-19 crisis to future IPA operations and strategies. It included presentations by UNCTAD and the private sector on the prospects of investment in the region.
Over 90 participants attended the webinar organized by UNCTAD in collaboration with the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) and the Caribbean Export Development Agency on 30 June 2020. It was the third in a series of UNCTAD online events targeted at investment promotion agencies (IPAs) in the context of the pandemic. The high-level panel brought together six IPAs, CAIPA, as well as private sector representatives.
IPAs from the Caribbean have played a critical role in supporting investors during the crisis. IPAs have been key in instilling confidence and responding to investors’ needs as they have evolved since the be- ginning of the pandemic. After initially being concentrated on crisis support, they are now focused on communicating that the Caribbean region is “open for business” and supporting their clients accordingly. Going forward, IPAs can also play an important role in developing investment promotion strategies that integrate the sustainable development imperative and are in line with the changing landscape of interna- tional production.
