Barbados hosts Caribbean Economic Forum

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 20:59 by GxMedia

Dr. C. Fred Bergsten

The Central Bank of Barbados on Monday announced that Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Dr. C. Fred Bergsten, will participate in the first-ever Caribbean Economic Forum.

The eveny is to be held at the Grande Salle, Central Bank of Barbados on February 19 from 8:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Dr. Bergsten, Senior Fellow and Director Emeritus of the Washington-based Peterson Institute, the only major research institution in the United States devoted to international economic issues, and described as “the most influential think tank on the planet”, will interact with regional broadcaster, Julian Rogers, before fielding questions from a studio audience and the general public via emails and live call-ins.

This discussion forum, the first of its kind in the region, will examine the economic prowess of emerging markets, reforming the international monetary system, a strategy for the world economy in the 21st century and reform of the International Monetary Fund.

The forum will be webcast and broadcast live. The Bank said that it was deeply honoured to provide the opportunity for Barbadians and Caribbean people to interact with a “phenomenon among economists” on issues of international import that are of significance to the island and the region.

Governor, Dr. DeLisle Worrell said that the Bank had hosted an impressive array of distinguished economists but none more so than Dr. Bergsten. He further commented that the Bank was breaking new ground in having Dr. Bergsten interact directly with Caribbean people. The Bank envisages this event will be of immense benefit to the region’s people, primarily because it affords them the opportunity to:

Interact with one of the world’s highly renowned economists, who is responsible for building the No.1 economics research institution in the world; and who has studied not only the economies of the developed world but also the developing and emerging markets;

Understand the issues that will define the country’s future, and the new economic dynamics that will shape our way of thinking and operating;

Help our policy makers and people craft responses and devise action plans and programmes to cope in light of these economic developments.

Barbadians can follow the live broadcast on www.centralbank.org.bb, CBC TV8 or Q100.7FM. Regional people may follow the discussion on www.centralbank.org.bb or on a Caribvision station.