About this event
The Development Bank of Jamaica Limited (DBJ) and its partners will host a two-day Infrastructure Conference on March 6 & 7, 2017 under the theme Delivering Growth through Partnership: Private Sector Participation in Infrastructure Development. The conference will be held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica.
Background It is a well-documented fact that good quality infrastructure supports economic growth and development and facilitates Governments’ delivery of required public services. Many Caribbean nations have been unable to adequately invest in infrastructure to meet their needs due to fiscal constraints, high debt and low economic growth. According to a 2014 study funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean faces an estimated US$10B infrastructure gap based on projections for 2015-2026.
Caribbean Governments have, in recent times, been looking to Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and other forms of private sector participation as efficient alternate funding mechanisms for the delivery of public infrastructure. Well-structured and managed PPP projects should deliver high-quality infrastructure projects on-time, within budget and with lower up-front costs to Governments. These mechanisms also allow Governments to encourage and facilitate meaningful private sector led investments in regional economies.
The Caribbean has had relatively limited experience in developing and implementing infrastructure projects under PPP arrangements. While Caribbean countries have engaged creatively with the private sector to deliver projects, our inexperience in developing, financing and executing these complex transactions, both in the private and public sector, is evident. To address this issue, private and public sector capacity building efforts are imperative.
It is against this background that the DBJ considers it timely to host the Infrastructure Conference aimed at sensitizing regional private sector investors on the key elements of infrastructure finance and to share the infrastructure investment opportunities being developed in the Caribbean.
Conference Objectives: The Conference aims to sensitize local and regional private sector participants and government officials by:
Increasing the knowledge base relating to private sector financing and due diligence in structuring deals for infrastructure projects Showcasing and engendering interest in infrastructure projects PPP projects being developed by GOJ and other Caribbean Governments Providing potential financiers (fund managers, investors, commercial and investment bankers) and policy makers with information on best practices and experiences relating to PPPs and private equity investing Detailing the process by which private sector entities prepare for bidding on PPPs (private sector due diligence) Discussing risk assessment and allocation in infrastructure projects Increasing awareness generally about the financing of PPPs with a particular focus on private equity funds as a viable financing option for infrastructure projects Who Should Attend?
Local, regional and international financiers (debt and private equity) Regional Government representatives Pension Fund Managers Insurance companies Construction firms Law firms Multilateral institutions Consulting and advisory firms Private Equity Funds Project Developers Delivery Methodology
Presentations: Conference content includes presentations on the PPP project development process; the principles of project finance; various financing mechanisms for SPVs including private equity; and risk identification and mitigation. Presenters include PPP practitioners from Canada the United Kingdom and private sector investors from Jamaica.
Panel Discussions: In the panel discussions private sector investors and funders share their practical experiences and lessons learned in developing and implementing infrastructure projects in the Caribbean; including the process of financing infrastructure projects (debt and private equity). Showcase of Infrastructure Investment Opportunities: Over the two days there are two sessions that will highlight presentations by Jamaican, Trinidadian and Bahamian government officials on infrastructure investment opportunities being considered and developed in those countries. Investment Brochure: An investment booklet providing details of the Jamaican investment opportunities will be produced and be available to attendees.