Impact and Innovation Forums – Investment Opportunities in Barbados - African Diaspora Network

Impact and Innovation Forums 2021

Webinar: Investment Opportunities in Barbados

Wednesday, March 24, 8:00 AM PST, 3:00 PM GMT

Hosted by the African Diaspora Network in Collaboration with Invest Barbados

COVID-19 brought with it much devastation, but also opportunities for countries to thrive and advance in ways they may not have before the pandemic. Several countries now have the opportunity to re-analyze their comparative and competitive advantages. More and more, focus is shifting to the sectors less likely to be impacted by the pandemic such as agri-business, consumer goods, financial services, information communication technology, logistics, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.

One such country that is seeking to increase and attract new investment in some of these sectors is Barbados. Barbados, well known as a premier tourist destination, also enjoys a positive image in as a reputable jurisdiction of choice. The country has been successfully attracting foreign direct investment for decades. Individuals and companies alike, looking to thrive in a highly competitive global marketplace invest in Barbados to capitalize on the business-friendly environment, strong human capital, high-quality infrastructure, investment protection and good quality of life.

Invest Barbados, in collaboration with the African Diaspora Network will be hosting a webinar on March 24, 2021, to highlight the investment opportunities and advantages that Barbados provides for global companies in areas such as ICT, Fintech, financial services, niche manufacturing, renewable energy, agri-business and offshore schools, among others. This forum will also highlight how the country can enhance the global competitive advantage of investors.  

Invest Barbados is an economic development agency of the government of Barbados, responsible for attracting, winning and sustaining foreign investment for Barbados.

The African Diaspora Network is a nonprofit organization located in Silicon Valley, CA, with a vision of activating capital from the African diaspora and friends of Africa for the development of Africa and communities around the world.   

Speakers

Kaye-Anne Brathwaite holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting, as well as a Master of Science in Business and Financial Economics. An Economist by training, she worked as a Senior Economist in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs until 2007. Desirous of learning all aspects of Business and Finance, she then entered the world of banking and credit. During her twelve year stint in banking, the former executive banker managed an extensive portfolio, providing financial and investment solutions to players in a wide range of industries. In September 2019, Kaye assumed the role of CEO of Invest Barbados.

David M. Rice is a senior tourism and hospitality executive with over thirty years of leadership experience in the private and public sector. Before founding Sunbury International, David held multiple positions for Welk Resort Group, a Vacation Ownership company with properties in San Diego, Palm Springs, Branson, Lake Tahoe and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Vice President of Resort Operations. In addition to Welk Resorts, David was responsible for over twenty-five resorts located throughout the US and Caribbean as Vice President of Operations Sunterra Resorts.

Dale always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and he had some initial ideas; however, healthcare motivated him to take that step. Within the Caribbean, 9/10 doctors utilize paper-based health records and he firsthand dealt with his records going missing and he thought now is the time for the healthcare records in the Caribbean to go digital. The idea evolved from just providing an electronic solution for doctors who care for disabilities and chronic illnesses to delivering a solution that does not replicate but improves the workflow and usability issues that plague many outpatient care electronic health records internationally.

Ned McMahon is the founder and CEO of Primo Energy – a hybrid wind and solar renewable energy company. Ned attended Texas A&M University studying Marine Engineering and spent most of his career in composites.

Ned moved into executive level management and business development domestically and internationally which included international licensing. He received a BS in International Business and he completed an Executive MBA Certificate Program at Rice University’s Graduate School of Business.

Mr. Toppin served in Cabinet from 1995 until 2003, first as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and International Transport and then, as Minister of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Business Development.

Important legislation now in force as a result of Mr. Toppin’s work are: the Fair Trading Commission Act, the Consumer Protection Act, the Consumers Guarantee Act, the Utilities Regulation Act, the Fair Competition Act, the Small Business Development Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Electronic Transactions Act.
He also established the Office of Public Counsel and the Consumer Claims Tribunal which give consumers the opportunity, free of cost, to enforce their rights against companies and businesses.

Mr. Toppin is currently Minister of International Business and Industry.

Feben is Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of DELFE Design, Engineering and Construction Management PLC, with headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After 18 years in the US, Feben ventured back to her home country to engage in the Construction sector. With that, Feben became a shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of ETG Designers and Consultants S.C.; an Employee Owned Architectural and Engineering firm based in Ethiopia with +80 shareholders. As CEO, Feben has overseen key largescale projects including a 134 hct Masterplan and Campus Design Project for Adwa Pan African University, currently under design development.

Deniece Laurent-Mantey is a Foreign Affairs Officer. She currently serves as member of the Secretary of State’s policy planning staff. In that role, she is a source of policy analysis, undertaking strategic recommendations of U.S.-Africa policy planning and formulation.

Prior to that, she was the Acting Deputy Director in the Bureau of African Affairs, Office of West Africa, managing and shaping the U.S. government’s relationship with 10 coastal countries in West Africa. She has also served as a Special Assistant to Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Executive Secretariat Staff of the Department where she was responsible for staffing, advancing, and traveling with the Secretary on official trips — domestic and international.