ECCB 2015/2016 Annual Report

EASTERN CARIBBEAN CENTRAL BANK

The 2015 FIM logo which highlighted the theme, LEAD - Learn, Empower, Achieve, Develop, was designed to inspire and challenge all citizens to LEAD in order to effect the change needed to spur financial, entrepreneurial, business and economic success at the personal and institutional levels.

Youth Development In January 2016, the ECCB hosted the first Youth Lead Conference for secondary school students who reside in the ECCB member territories. The conference was designed to strengthen youth entrepreneurship and leadership initiatives in the ECCU and to provide an opportunity for sharing experiences that would inspire the region’s youth to LEAD. In keeping with the ECCB’s thrust to foster integration among the OECS countries as one of the key components of the region’s development, the conference also afforded the 300 students from 40 schools the opportunity to network with peers across the ECCB member countries. Business Solutions Think Tank and Hackathon The ECCB, in collaboration with Quintessence Consulting, e-Caribbean and other partners spearheaded the first OECS Business Solutions Think Tank and Hackathon over the period 13 – 15 August 2015. The forum sought to enrich, invigorate and strengthen business strategy through the development of the applications. The Business Solutions Think Tank and Hackathon brought together 140 participants including youth, teachers, business owners, business associations’ representatives, IT technocrats, thought leaders, and business professionals from across the ECCB member countries via videoconference to brainstorm and work on 11 prototype IT applications.

Other FIM Regional Initiatives As part of the FIM month of activities, the ECCB, in collaboration with its FIM partners hosted the following initiatives: 1. Declaration speeches by the Minister for Finance or his designate in each ECCB member country; 2. Regional financial and business workshops targeting media, teachers, community leaders and financial practitioners; 3. Schools contests and presentations to primary and secondary schools; 4. Newspaper articles; 5. Radio and television programmes on financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial issues; and 6. Walkathons and exhibitions. In addition to the above initiatives, charity programmes were carried out in various islands including a charity event targeting the Petite Savanne Primary School students who were displaced by the passing of the Tropical Storm Erika in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

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ECCB A nnual R eport 2015/2016