Jamaican-born Caribbean economist, Joseph Cox has been appointed Managing Partner of The Institute for Innovation and Growth (IIG), a regional economics and sustainable development think-tank.

Cox, who resigned in August this year as assistant secretary-general of economic integration, innovation and development at the CARICOM Secretariat took up his new post three weeks ago. With more than three decades of experience as an Applied Economics Consultant and Advocate, Cox brings extensive expertise to his new role. 

He joins the Institute after a nine-year stint at the CARICOM Secretariat, which stands as a testimony to his depth of expertise in regional development and manifested in initiatives such as the Made in CARICOM programme and the Regional Post-COVID-19 economic recovery strategies. 

His impact extends globally through successful projects with the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, which has solidified his position in the international development partner community. 

The institute says, “Cox’s  dedication to fostering growth and innovation is evidenced in his advocacy and authorship of the book, The New Normal – A Post-COVID Primer for Business, a valuable free resource for the Caribbean.” Previously, Cox excelled as the Managing Partner at the Centre for Growth and Development in Jamaica and as Executive Director, Growth Secretariat at the Planning Institute of Jamaica. 

He had made notable contributions to national development through the establishment of three financial institutions and pioneering strategies such as the “Taxation for Growth Strategy for Jamaica”, “Municipal Finance Reform Strategy” and an intervention strategy entitled, “Towards a Modern Development Approvals Mechanism” geared to the overhaul of the construction permitting system in Jamaica. 

The Institute for Innovation and Growth is a centre dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic development. By providing cutting-edge research, comprehensive training programs, and strategic partnerships with academic, industry, and government stakeholders, the Institute empowers individuals and organizations to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape. 

With an exceptional core team of regional experts of international repute and deep local knowledge, the institute serves as a hub for thought leadership, policy advocacy, funding facilitation, and project and programme implementation, driving transformative solutions aligned with sustainable development goals. 

Through its commitment to knowledge sharing, technology integration, and building local capacity, the institute plays a pivotal role in promoting inclusive growth and advancing innovative practices across sectors including but not limited to agriculture, transport, finance, industry, energy and climate change.