Above: Bridgetown, Barbados (Caribbean Journal Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Barbados Finance Minister Christopher Sinckler and Inter-American Development Bank Vice President Roberto Vellutini recently held talks in Bridgetown.

The two sides focused their discussions on economic issues, particularly the impact of the global downturn.

“We still have to manage to keep things as stable as possible to ensure that we turn small gains into larger victories,” Sinckler said following the talks.

Sinckler and Vellutini also discussed the upcoming Foromic XV conference, which will take place in Barbados from Oct.1 to Oct. 3.

That forum, which is expected to attract up to 1,300 delegates, will focus on best practices in the area of microenterprise development in the region.

“We are happy,” Sinckler said. “The excitement is building and the [plans] are going well. So I am happy to report that, from all that I have seen, heard and the files that I have read, that the preparations are well advanced.”

The conference is being held by the Inter-American Investment Corporation.

The IDB has been financing several projects of late in Barbados, notably the new Four Seasons project, which received approval for $55 million in IDB financing in May.