Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has called on Latin America and the Caribbean to position themselves more deliberately as influential players in the global economy, urging the region to move beyond long-standing narratives of vulnerability.

Holness was speaking on January 28 at Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean’s (CAF) second International Economic Forum in Panama City, where he addressed regional and international leaders, policymakers, investors, and development partners. 

He framed the current global moment as one that demands choice and agency, arguing that the region must decide whether it will help shape global change or simply respond to it.

“For too long, our region has been described primarily through the language of vulnerability,” Holness said. “But vulnerability is not destiny. We are not peripheral to the global system; we are central to its stability, sustainability, and future growth.”

The prime minister highlighted several strengths he said position Latin America and the Caribbean for a more prominent global role, including its strategic geography, youthful populations, natural resources, food production capacity, renewable energy potential, creative industries, and resilient democratic institutions. 

However, he stressed that unlocking this potential requires stronger regional coordination and clarity on shared priorities.

“We must articulate clearer regional positions on climate resilience, supply-chain diversification, digital inclusion, and sustainable energy,” he said. “We must move from fragmented national initiatives to aligned regional priorities. And we must shift from reacting to global change to anticipating it, helping shape the standards and partnerships of the next decade.”

Holness outlined three key imperatives for advancing the region’s economic standing: improving regional competitiveness through better connectivity, logistics, energy security, and digital transformation; strengthening institutional readiness through credible and predictable frameworks; and adopting a more proactive diplomatic and economic posture that deepens ties with both traditional partners and emerging markets.

Drawing on Jamaica’s experience, the prime minister pointed to years of fiscal discipline, institutional reform, and macroeconomic stability as factors that have improved the country’s ability to withstand and recover from economic shocks. 

He said this progress was evident in Jamaica’s response to Hurricane Melissa, a Category Five storm that struck the island just months ago and caused widespread damage across several sectors. According to Holness, the country’s recovery has been supported by stronger institutions and sustained international confidence.

Holness also used the forum to encourage investors and development partners to engage with Jamaica’s expanding pipeline of investment opportunities, including projects in infrastructure, logistics, energy, manufacturing, tourism, and the digital economy. 

He said Jamaica should be seen not only as a market, but as a platform for wider regional growth, supported by stable institutions and a predictable investment environment.

As part of the forum, CAF organised a Jamaica Investment Forum aimed at attracting new investment to the island in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.