HEAVYWEIGHTS FROM VARIOUS SECTORS of the regional economy will converge at the Jamaica Pegasus from January 23-25 for the annual Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) conference held this year under the theme ‘The Drivers of Capital: From Concept to Growth’.
JSE’s Neville Ellis, one of the brains behind the event, is confident that the 2024 meeting will live up to organisers and participants’ usually high expectations.
Ellis said all invited speakers have not yet been confirmed, the JSE organisers are expecting a long list “of highly respected and admired regional leaders” to take the podium over the three days to probe critical business and finance-related issues company executives and other specialists in various fields anticipate.
The JSE’s Marketing and Communications Manager said the conference will open with presentations by Mr. Kadeen Mairs, Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dequity Capital Management Limited who will examine ‘Micro and Small and Medium Sized Businesses A Cog for Economic Growth’. He said Mr. Angus Young, CEO, NCB Capital Markets Ltd will speak on Turning Tides Stimulating Regional Cooperation. Mr. Gregory Fisher, Managing Director – Head of EM Fixed Income Wealth Management Jefferies, will discuss ‘A Look into the Global Economic Landscape and the Jamaican economy for 2024’.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Mr. Andrew Holness will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony focusing on ‘Translating Stable Economic Environment into Economic Growth for All’.
Current CARICOM Chairman, Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali will unpack the issue of ‘Funding Mega Projects Through the Capital Markets in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana’. Following President Ali’s discourse will be a Finance Ministers’ forum addressed by . Dr Nigel Clarke, Finance and Public Service Minister, Jamaica; Prime Minister and Minister of Finance – Commonwealth of The Bahamas Phillip Davis; Minister of Finance, Trinidad and Tobago, Colm Imbert; and Dr Ashni Singh, Senior Minister, Office of the President with responsibility for Finance – Guyana. They will exchange views on ‘Enhancing the Caribbean Regulatory Framework for Regional Free Flow of Capital’.
Later the second day, there will be a panel discussion on ‘Traditional Industries Creating a New Era for Sustainability’. Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining, Floyd Green and Dominica Republic Minister of Industry, Trade and MSMEs, Víctor Bisonó will host that session.
Mr. Anton Edmunds General Manager, Country Department Caribbean Group and Country Representative in Jamaica, IDB Ms. Onyka Barret Principal, Pinnacle Impact International Limited Mr. Sacha Syne General Manager, Corporate & Investment Banking, First Citizens, Trinidad and Tobago, will headline another panel discussion later that day on ‘Integrating the Colors of Capital to Advance Caribbean Sustainability: How Can Companies Lead the Charge for a More Sustainable Business Environment’.
Participants can also sit in on ‘Driving a Successful Capital Market through Market Education and Feedback’ considered by Executive Vice President of the Dominican Stock Exchange, Ms. Elianne Vilchez, JSE’s Managing Director, Dr. Marlene Street-Forrest, and Managing Director, Barbados Stock Exchange, Mr. Marlon Yarde.
The three-day JSE conference will wrap up with several CEO’s moderating the session under the theme ‘Meeting the Press: COMPANIES’ OUTLOOK FOR 2024 & BEYOND’. Mr. Christopher Levy, President and CEO, Jamaica Broilers Group Limited; JSE’s Dr. Marlene Street-Forrest Managing; Mr. Ian Dear, CEO, Margaritaville Turks Limited, and Mr. Ivan Anderson, Managing Director, Trans-Jamaican Highway Limited, billed to be the speakers.
Later on the final day, Guyana’s former two-term President, and current Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, will address the topic, ‘Long-Term Planning: Necessary to Sustain the Caribbean’s Wealth Creation’.
A session on ‘From Concept to Growth, Unlocking Opportunities’ will immediately follow Jagdeo’s presentation and will include Mr. Christopher Buchanan, CEO, NCB Capital Markets Ltd.; Barbados’ Mr. Jason Stanford: CEO, AIM Medical (and Recipient of Private Equity Financing); Mr. Jeremy Barnes, CEO, Future Energy Source Company Limited (FESCO).
While Bank of Jamaica’s Governor Mr. Richard Byles will analyse the ‘Twin Peaks Model and Its Effective Implementation’, Angel Investing will speak on ‘The full package – Money Advice Networks Development Bank of Jamaica’, and Mr. John Stoltzfus, Managing Director – Chief Investment Strategist Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc., will speak on ‘Strategies for Reenergizing the Markets in 2024’.
The ABCs for ‘Growing Small and Medium-Sized Businesses’ falls into the lap of Ms. Lynette Holder, CEO of Bridgetown’s Small Business Association. Mr. Roger Roach, President, Trinidad and Tobago Manufactures’ Association and Mr. Hugh Johnson: Director, Wigton Windfarm Ltd are also listed to speak.
Ms. Eva Mitchell, CEO of T&T’s Stock Exchange will analyse the Regulatory Environment: A Pillar for Confidence and Growth’. Other speakers on the topic are also expected to be drawn from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE); Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Former PM of Jamaica, and current Opposition Leader, Mr. Mark Golding, will address ‘Moving to Growth: Scholarly Idealism or Realism?’
The will also be a forum examining ‘Monetizing our Cultural Assets: Music, Sports, Entertainment and the Creative Industry’ and Mr. Basil Dawkins, Producer, Playwright, Director, will spearhead that session that will also include Mr. Scott Dunn, Managing Director, Dream Entertainment Limited; Ms. Lilyclaire Bellamy, Executive Director, Jamaica Intellectual Property Office, and Mr. Kingsley Cooper, Executive Chairman, Pulse Investments Limited.
The penultimate session of the conference will see Keith Collister Executive Chairman ATL Pension Fund/Chairman Sandals Foundation, speaking on ‘Pension Reform That Accesses Greater Returns for Pensioner’.
Mr. Dennis Zulu, Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, United Nations (UN) will look at the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Workplace, while Mr. Don Wehby, Group CEO will speak on ‘Preparing the Next Generation for the Helm: Succession Planning’.
The 2024 conference will end off with Mr. Hally Haynes, President, Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) and Mr. Lambert Johnson, immediate Past President, Jamaica Credit Union League (JCUL) moderating the Conference’s final session under the topic, ‘Positioning Credit Unions to Accelerate Regional Growth’.
JSE’s Ellis disclosed that a number of other key regional private and public officials are expected to join the annual conference which has been attracting a larger crowd. Some 500 persons attended last year and this year’s gathering is expected to surpass it.
We are upbeat with our plans and preparations. So far everything is moving ahead smoothly as final touches are being put in place to ensure that the conference is successful, Ellis said.
