Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis – The St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency
(SKIPA) participated in the recently concluded CARICOM Delegates Programme
2026, held in Tokyo, Japan, and organized by the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) Investment and Technology Promotion Office
(ITPO) Tokyo. SKIPA was represented by Mr. Stanley Jacobs, Director of
Investment Promotion, who joined fellow investment promotion professionals from
across the Caribbean for a week of high-level engagement with Japanese
businesses, institutions and technology providers.
The programme brought together 14 investment promotion professionals
representing 13 CARICOM Member States and the Caribbean Association of
Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) to strengthen regional capacity in
facilitating business partnerships, foreign direct investment and technology transfer
opportunities. The initiative was organized by UNIDO ITPO Tokyo in collaboration
with the UNIDO Sustainable Investments and Responsible Business Unit and the
UNIDO-Barbados Global SIDS Hub, with funding provided by the Government of
Japan.
Throughout the programme, delegates participated in a series of business seminars,
thematic roundtables and company visits focused on areas of strategic importance to
the Caribbean, including disaster resilience and the circular economy, agribusiness
and food processing, and renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure. These
engagements provided valuable opportunities to explore innovative technologies,
identify potential investment partnerships and strengthen economic cooperation
between Japan and CARICOM countries.
A key feature of the programme was the CARICOM Business Seminar, during which
participating investment promotion agencies and government representatives
presented investment opportunities and development priorities to Japanese
companies and institutions. The event fostered dialogue aimed at creating new
avenues for trade, investment and business collaboration across the Caribbean
region.
Commenting on the experience, Mr. Jacobs noted that the programme offered an
important platform to showcase Saint Kitts and Nevis as an attractive investment
destination while building relationships with prospective investors and partners from
Japan.
“The programme demonstrated the significant potential for collaboration between
Caribbean nations and Japanese enterprises. SKIPA remains committed to
leveraging these connections to attract sustainable investment, support technology
transfer and advance the economic development priorities of Saint Kitts and Nevis.”
SKIPA views its participation in the CARICOM Delegates Programme as part of its
ongoing efforts to expand international partnerships and promote investment
opportunities that drive innovation, job creation and sustainable economic growth.
The Agency looks forward to building upon the connections established during the
programme and translating them into tangible opportunities for Saint Kitts and Nevis.
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