The Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Finance announced that Trinidad and Tobago has assumed the chairmanship of the Board of Directors of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, with Finance Minister Vishnu Dhanpaul serving a one-year term. The update was issued alongside CAF’s first board meeting of 2025, where the bank approved USD 1.45 billion in new financing for projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. Minister Dhanpaul will preside over all board meetings during his term and succeeds the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Finance and Economy, José Manuel Vicente. The ministry noted Trinidad and Tobago is the first English-speaking Caribbean and first CARICOM country to hold the CAF board chair in the institution’s history; Trinidad and Tobago was represented at the meeting by Minister in the Ministry of Finance Hassel Bacchus. The USD 1.45 billion package covers projects including aqueduct construction and port works, and improvements in urban mobility, education systems, and business competitiveness; CAF also announced USD 8.5 billion in financing through 2030 to support agricultural prosperity in the region.
Ministry of Finance (Trinidad & Tobago) 2025-03-28
Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Finance takes chair of CAF Board as the bank approves USD 1.45 billion in regional financing
The Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Finance announced that Trinidad and Tobago has assumed the chairmanship of the Board of Directors of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, with Finance Minister Vishnu Dhanpaul serving a one-year term. During CAF’s first board meeting of 2025, the bank approved USD 1.45 billion in new financing for projects across Latin America and the Caribbean, including aqueduct construction, port works, and urban mobility improvements. Additionally, CAF committed USD 8.5 billion in financing through 2030 to support agricultural prosperity in the region.