The 9th Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF 2025) wrapped up in Miami with a series of interactive Rise and Shine roundtables and a hands-on workshop co-hosted by the event’s co-title sponsors CIBC and KPMG.

The closing sessions brought together policymakers, financiers, and industry experts for practical discussions aimed at translating ideas into implementable solutions.

Morning roundtables covered themes including energy efficiency, coastal resilience, road modernisation, healthcare, and digital connectivity. The collaborative format created space for delegates to share experiences, challenges, and new approaches to regional priorities. It emphasised the knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer dialogue that the event promotes to foster actionable partnerships.

CARIF 2025 concluded with Financing the Future: Building Bankable Projects for the Caribbean, an intensive workshop led by CIBC, KPMG, and Stantec. By blending case studies with simulation exercises, the session guided participants through the essential elements of structuring infrastructure projects to meet investor expectations.

Isabel de Caires, CIBC Caribbean’s Director of Investment Banking, said the workshop reflected the bank’s commitment to ensuring that promising projects reach financial close.

“At CIBC Caribbean, we know that even the most visionary projects won’t succeed without the right structure. This workshop was about giving participants the tools needed to present projects that are financially sound, resilient, and attractive to investors. It is part of our broader mission to turn ambition into bankable reality for the Caribbean,” she said.

Naweed Nuhuman, Associate Director of Deal Advisory, KPMG in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, echoed the focus on practicality.

He said, “Too often, projects stall between concept and financing. By walking participants through real-world examples and engaging them in a simulation, we helped bridge that gap. The Caribbean has no shortage of ideas. It needs structures, partnerships, and financing models that can deliver them, and that’s what this workshop set out to reinforce.”

With its close, CARIF 2025 cemented its role as the Caribbean’s premier platform for advancing infrastructure. From high-level ministerial discussions to hands-on exercises, the two-day event highlighted the urgency and the opportunity of building resilient, sustainable systems to drive economic growth across the region.