CAF Board approves Antigua and Barbuda’s membership

The Board of Directors of CAF -development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean met for the fourth time in Lima, Peru, and authorized the expansion of its shareholder base, endorsing the incorporation of Antigua and Barbuda as a member with "Class C" shares. This will allow the country to access the technical, financial, and knowledge services that the organization offers to member countries to enhance their citizens' quality of life.

"Antigua and Barbuda's interest in joining CAF reflects the growing influence we are having in the Caribbean and throughout the region. Our new approach is providing a fresh perspective to an institution originally founded by 6 Andean countries (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela), which, 56 years later, has expanded to include 21 shareholder countries and stands as one of the leading sources of multilateral financing in the region," stated Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF.

CAF's steps towards closer engagement with the Caribbean began two years ago with the establishment of the Caribbean Regional Office, headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago. This office is advancing CAF’s work programs for green growth, biodiversity preservation and climate action, sustainable tourism, resilient infrastructure, water, food, and energy security among others.

CAF has an ambitious agenda to foster regional integration and promote sustainable and inclusive development in the region. CAF is committed to providing development assistance to address the unique needs of Caribbean islands and small states, which are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. Within the framework of the Bridgetown Initiative, CAF has already committed USD 15 million in support of the Blue-Green Bank, led by Barbados.