The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on Monday, February 10, at the Hilton Hotel in St Michael, Barbados, unveiled the theme for the 55th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors (BOG) as it gears up for the event to be held in Brasília, Brazil, from June 9 – 12, 2025.

Under the ‘Building the Future: Resilient Institutions for a Greener, Stronger, and Inclusive Caribbean’ and with the leadership of Bajan-born President Daniel Best, the CDB will mark a renewed drive for building resilient institutions, improving collaboration between countries, and increasing private sector partnerships to create a stronger Caribbean.

Best emphasised that the meeting’s focus underscores the regional bank’s commitment to transforming lives in the Caribbean by enabling resilient institutions to drive sustainable development. 

“The theme for this year’s annual meeting represents our collective ambition and commitment to respond to the critical challenges facing our people by reimagining how we make our institutions more fit for purpose,” he explained.

“The choice of Brazil as our host is significant. Brazil’s extensive experience and culture of innovation present us with the opportunity to deepen our cooperation and leverage Latin America’s strengths to support the Caribbean’s development agenda. Our discussions in Brasília will centre on actionable and transformational strategies, highlighting the “rebirth” of the bank as it evolves to meet the changing needs of its member countries amidst rapidly shifting global and multilateral paradigms. Our goal is to create institutions that can withstand external pressures while paving the way for equitable prosperity,” the newly appointed president added.

The annual meeting convenes CDB’s Board of Governors, the highest level of leadership guiding the institution. Brazil, one of CDB’s Latin American members, will host the meeting for the first time.

Chairperson of the board Viviane Vecchi Mendes Muller, Brazil’s deputy secretary for international affairs and development, said the meeting agenda will advance shared regional priorities, addressing climate change, deepening private sector engagement, and enhancing multilateral partnerships.

“The focus of the 55th Annual Meeting aligns closely with Brazil’s vision for regional cooperation and CDB’s mission. Brazil values its relations with the region and acknowledges the importance of keeping our countries connected. It is well known that Brazil has also been championing, designing, and implementing programmes for social inclusion, with a focus on food and nutritional security. We are well aware of the challenges brought by climate change in all of those fronts. I’m confident that CDB’s ongoing efforts to enhance institutional strength and resilience will benefit both the Bank and its member countries,” she explained.

“The meeting’s theme also presents a valuable opportunity to link discussions to the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which Brazil will host in November. We are convinced that this meeting will not only strengthen the CDB’s resilience but also deepen the ties between Brazil and the Caribbean. We look forward to welcoming you to Brasília,” Mendes Muller added.

Aside from the high-level discussions, the meeting will foster knowledge-sharing, networking, and informative forums for policy development and decision-making. The CDB will release the full agenda in the coming months. All public sessions will be streamed live, allowing for global accessibility to these critical discussions.