KPMG Sponsors Caribbean Infrastructure Forum
KPMG has taken a leading role in the Caribbean Infrastructure Forum [CARIF] 2020 as the event’s title sponsor.
A spokesperson said, “KPMG will co-host with IJGlobal, the infrastructure arm of Euromoney Institutional Investor, and New Energy Events, the organisers of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum, to convene a cross section of decision makers, executives and financiers from across the public and private sectors to discuss the region’s infrastructure needs, explore structures and partnerships, and introduce Caribbean projects to international sources of financing.
“CARIF continues to evolve and expand to address pressing public sector challenges, outside of infrastructure, including healthcare affordability and access, technology enablement and extra-territorial regulation. CARIF is the largest gathering of the regional infrastructure market on the annual calendar.
“Caribbean nations face extraordinary challenges as well as opportunities to make step changes which will benefit current and future generations. Island jurisdictions urgently need to modernise power, transportation, telecoms and water and wastewater infrastructure to position the region for growth and competitiveness.
“To modernise is not enough in today’s enviornment: all investment in infrastructure must also now be considered through the lens of increasingly frequent and extreme weather events. The next generation of Caribbean infrastructure must be climate resilient and economically sustainable. Hurricane Dorian was a brutal reminder that resilience is critical and essential to long-term recovery.
“Soft infrastructure, such as sustainable healthcare, is moving up the agenda as islands seek to fund and implement universal healthcare. Quality of life and tourism is being improved through ‘smart islands’. And the return on investment in soft and hard social infrastructure is generating economic growth.
“There is a sea change in how island governments are delivering their economic and social mandates. Governments are moving from being late adopters to first movers to ensure the welfare of current and future generations. Islands are increasingly operating within global parameters established by major nations. Extra-territorial regulations require managing new responses through technological enablement.
“Protecting and commercialising the blue economy of ocean resources is a reality, but islands are only beginning to confront that there is no quick answer to the question of how best to proceed.”
Lori Rockhead, Director and Sector Lead of Infrastructure, Government & Healthcare in Bermuda, said, “We are very excited to work alongside IJGlobal, New Energy Events and fellow title sponsor CIBC First Caribbean to host a consolidated regional infrastructure event which gathers the market.
“CARIF is set to be the catalyst, which will drive the flow of financing and investment into critical regional infrastructure projects now and for years to come as it draws an expansive audience of project sponsors and developers, providers of multilateral and private capital and regional governments.”
For more information on CARIF, visit the website.
