June 2, 2022, BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Caribbean Development Bank’s Vice President of Operations, Mr Isaac Solomon, encouraged the Bank’s member countries to prioritise food security initiatives while accelerating efforts towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speaking at the CDB’s food security seminar held on June 1, 2022, he expressed a desire for “tangible and implementable actions, to contribute to the Region’s agenda to achieve food security and reduce its import bill by 25% by 2025” adding that “with less than 8 years left until 2030, it is imperative that the region accelerate all efforts towards the achievement of the SDGs.”
The webinar, attended by a cross-section of global experts, provided recommendations for coherent approaches to managing logistics and reducing processing and exportation costs of agri-food products within the Caribbean. Senior Trade Facilitation Officer at the International Trade Centre (ITC) Mr Pierre Bonthonneau said the Caribbean can impact its food import metrics by making trade formalities more effective, pursuing greater investment in technology-based initiatives, and embracing trade reforms and robust public-private dialogue. He emphasised that both private and public sector entities have a responsibility to make the pricing of commodities cost effective, given that two-thirds of the world’s population depends on imports for a healthy diet. Several solutions are being supported by CDB, which is funding projects targeting connectivity, transport, digital interventions for trade and enhancing infrastructure at ports of entry. Addressing SDGs in food security will require innovations responding to social, financial, environmental, institutional and economic challenges.