WASHINGTON, DC - A new study by the Inter-American Development Bank has found that the value of exported goods from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) grew at an estimated rate of 2.9 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023, after increasing by 16.4 percent last year.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Timothy N.J. Antoine says he is pleased with the performance of DCash, the bank’s digital currency pilot aimed at improving financial inclusion and modernizing payment systems.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ACDI/VOCA have launched the US Department of Agriculture Food for Progress Jamaica Spices project. 

PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The Suriname private sector says it will act as external watchdogs for the implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program as well as the government’s economic recovery plan.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) is providing loans totaling US$16 million loan to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the construction of a primary care center in the South Rivers and a cultural center of arts.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bank of The Bahamas (BOB), will, from next month become the latest authorized financial institution (AFI) to begin providing SandDollar wallet services to customers in a targeted and phased roll out.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The President of ExxonMobil Guyana Alistair Routledge has announced that plans are on stream to have the Prosperity Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel commence operations later this year as part of the Payara Field Development Project in the Stabroek Block.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited (GCBL) on Friday took over the operations of FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited (FirstCaribbean) following approval from the St. Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).

PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The governor of Suriname has reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about resuming the monetary institution’s US$ 690 million financial aid program. 

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Central bank of the Bahamas (CBB) says the robust recovery of the Bahamian economy was sustained in 2022, underpinned by the further rebound in tourism and steady stimulus from foreign direct investments.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Oil company, ExxonMobil Guyana says it has injected more than GUY$80 billion into the local economy as the government this week approved its 2023 plan, as well as providing a certificate for complying with its local content plan last year.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The Antigua and Barbuda government says the LIAT 2020 will operate on a viable commercial basis following its decision to enter into an agreement with Africa’s largest private carrier, Air Peace to boost investments in the new entity.