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Caribbean Launch of 2024 World Development Report

The event will bring together a diverse group of representatives and panelists from and working in the Caribbean, including development partners, clients, think tanks, academics, students, central banks, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Together, we will explore practical approaches to translating the findings of the WDR2024 into policies and actionable strategies to address the middle-income trap in the Caribbean.

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Drawing on the development experience and advances in economic analysis since the 1950s, World Development Report 2024 identifies what developing economies can do to avoid the “middle-income trap.” Lower-middle-income countries must go beyond investment-driven strategies—they must also adopt modern technologies and successful business practices from abroad and infuse them across their economies. Upper-middle-income countries need to accelerate the shift to innovation, by pushing the global frontiers of technology. This requires reconfiguring economic structures governing enterprises, labor, and energy use—in ways that enable greater economic freedom, social mobility, and political contestability.

Format: The four-hour hybrid event will commence with opening remarks from World Bank officials and will be followed by a presentation by the report’s co-author. The event will round out with two interactive panel discussions and conclude with audience questions. Invitees include: ministry officials, development partners, academia etc. 

You can find more information about the WDR2024 here.

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9:00 – 9:30 a.m. 

Registration & Welcome Refreshments

9:30 – 9:35 a.m.

Event Begins 

 

9:35 – 9:40 a.m.

Jamaica National Anthem

9:45 - 9:52 a.m.

Opening Remarks by Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Director for the Caribbean

9:52 - 10:00 a.m.

Welcome Remarks - Government of Jamaica

10:00 - 10:05 a.m. 

Introduction of the Presenter

10:05 - 10:30 a.m. 

Presentation: Somik Lall, Director of WDR2024 and Senior Advisor to the Chief Economist

10:30 - 10:35 a.m. 

 Introduction of Panelists | Moderator

10:35 - 11:20 a.m. 

Panel 1 Discussion - Fostering Growth Through Human Capital Development

Moderated by Emri Ozaltin, Program Leader, Human Development, World Bank 

  • Dr. Didacus Jules (Online) - Director General, OECS Commission 
  • Dr. Christine Clarke - Senior Lecturer/Deputy Dean - UWI Mona
  • Dr. Taneisha - Managing Director - HEART/NSTA Trust Agency

11:20 - 11:30 a.m. 

Audience Q&A

11:30 – 11:40 a.m.

Coffee Break

11:40 – 11:45 a.m.

Moderator 

 

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion - What can Caribbean countries do to avoid the Middle-Income Trap?

Moderated by Maria Vagliasindi, Lead Economist, Development Economics Vice Presidency

  • Therese Turner-Jones - Vice President (Ag.) - Operations Area - Caribbean Development Bank
  • Anton Edmunds (Online) - General Manager, Caribbean Country Department - Inter-American Development Bank 
  • Dr. Wesley Hughes - Consultant 
  • Mr. Keith Collister - Consultant/Journalist

12:30 p.m. – 12:40 p.m.

Audience Q&A

12:40 – 12:50 p.m.

Closing reflections from panel 2 participants.

12:50 - 1:00 p.m.

Closing remarks: by Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Group Caribbean Director & Somik Lall, Director of WDR2024 and Senior Advisor to the Chief Economist 

1:00 p.m.

Refreshments

·      Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General, OECS Commission

·      Dr. Christine Clarke, Senior Lecturer/Deputy Dean, University of the West Indies 

·      Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, Managing Director, HEART/NSTA Trust Agency

·      Therese Turner-Jones, Vice President (Ag.), Caribbean Development Bank

·      Anton Edmunds, General Manager-Caribbean, Inter-American Development Bank

·      Dr. Wesley Hughes, Economic Consultant

·      Mr. Keith Collister, Consultant

Date: October 17, 2024

Time: 09:00 AM - 02:00 PM ET

Location: Hybrid