1 (Left to Right) Troy Sampson- BDB Business Development Manager, Shacara Lightbourne - IICA Mari Dunleavy- The Bahamas Representative for IICA, Dave Smith, Managing Director, Sumayyah Cargill, Unit Head, Strategic Development & Initiatives

In continuation of their partnership, the incoming representative for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Mari Dunleavy paid a courtesy call to The Bahamas Development Bank (The Bank) accompanied by the Technical Coordinator, Shacara Lightbourne. She was received by Dave Smith, Managing Director, Troy Sampson, Business Development Manager and Sumayyah Cargill, Unit Head, Strategic Development and Initiatives. 

The Bank is mandated under the Bahamas Development Bank Act, 1974, to promote industrial, agricultural and commercial development through financing and investing in approved enterprises. IICA is a specialized agricultural agency in the Inter-American System, which provides support to its 34 member states to promote and encourage agricultural and rural development and economic growth.  As such, this ongoing partnership meets both The Bank’s mandate and IICA’s mission.

The meeting covered a range of topics including opportunities for financing agri-tourism, climate resilience, opportunities for technology improvement and Family Island development.  The Bank is building opportunities for tourism into several projects including the Long Island Small Ruminant Project and Cascarilla Cooperative Financing.  Community based initiatives including the Andros Community Cluster Project, where The Bank represents as a Steering Committee member and has committed $350,000 to cluster businesses were also highlighted.