A senior banker believes the Caribbean agriculture is ripe for investment.
Carlene Seudat, managing director and chief executive officer of Republic Bank Barbados is, therefore, encouraging more support for the sector.
She was speaking during last week’s Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2026 at Hilton Barbados Resort, an event her organisation has sponsored since it started in 2022.
Republic Bank Barbados is part of the Trinidad and Tobago-based Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL).
Seudat called CIF “an opportunity to positively impact entrepreneurs who are transforming industries, influence the region’s development agenda, and witness the potential for growth and innovation that can drive resilience and global competitiveness in the Caribbean”.
She highlighted agriculture as an opportunity in this regard.
“Agriculture is a bedrock of our regional resilience. For generations, the land has weathered storms, supply chains, shocks, and climate vulnerability. At RFHL, our passion for regional agriculture and an investment in this area has moved us in 2021 to pledge US$100 million supporting the agri-business ecosystem, all with the ultimate objective of reducing our food import costs,” she aid.
“We continue with this struggle today. The challenges of high food import bills and climate volatility remain, but we remain resolute to ensure our impact continues and is deepened. This should push us all as a region to broaden our perspective
and embrace the evolution of the agricultural sector.
“We are no longer simply discussing traditional farming as we all know it. We are executing sustainable agricultural business powered by precision irrigation, circular economy models, and climate-smart technology. Some of which actually exists involving us as we know it today.”
Seudat said the groundwork was laid to facilitate more investment in agriculture.
“Regional demand is clear. Infrastructure is much better than it was just a few short years ago. Even technology is now integrated into agribusiness. The opportunity has matured, and it is time for the global capital to step into the room and reap some of these rewards,” she suggested.
The Republic Bank Barbados boss said RFHL saw a chance for “bold investment in the sectors that define our region’s future competitiveness”.
“It is what drives us to surpass our group’s 2025 sustainable financial goals, supporting a number of critical projects across our territories and . . . throughout the scope of our group, and it is why we recently announced that we have challenged ourselves with an expanded climate finance and financial inclusion, with special strategic emphasis on the region’s small, medium, and larger enterprises pursuing agriculture, engaged in climate-friendly pursuits, or categorised as woman-led,” she noted.
“We have pledged an additional US$550 million towards our goal of US$750 million by 2030, reflecting our long-term vision for the prosperity of our region and the large number of communities that we serve.
“Through targeted support for climate action, women-owned and women-led businesses and agricultural enterprises across the value chain, we are seeking to unlock economic potential whilst advancing sustainable development outcomes that will benefit generations many to come.
“Whether it is sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, digital transformation, technology, logistics transformation, or resilient infrastructure, the Caribbean possesses a significant amount of untapped potential, and this is demonstrated in part by the very projects showcased at this year’s Caribbean Investment Forum,” Seudat said. (SC)