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Branson, Mottley to Speak at IDB’s Inaugural Pivot Event

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Richard Branson and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley are two of the high-profile speakers scheduled to open the inaugural Pivot Event organized by the Inter-American Development Bank and partners.

The event which starts on October 15th, will be a virtual five-day gathering of pioneering thinkers in the Caribbean region. They are expected to harness big ideas into a manifesto for driving Caribbean transformation. 

Pivot is a movement to harness ambitious ideas with the potential to transform life in the Caribbean. It launched with the Pivot Search: an idea competition and The Pivot Event: a virtually gathering of innovators and entrepreneurs. The Pivot Event will result in a manifesto of 9 moonshots for the Caribbean in electric mobility, tourism & digital transformation.

Branson who is known globally as the consummate entrepreneur and innovator will prime the audience during a segment called ‘Inspire’. While Mottley, who has been gaining a lot of attention for her advocacy on climate change and her management of the COVID-19 situation in Barbados, will open the event.

José Morey of Singularity University, the facilitating partners and proponents of approaches for moonshot thinking, will introduce attendees to the main concepts needed to take part effectively. Participants, referred to as future makers, will work in small groups over the remaining four days of the event to create moonshots in three categories; electric vehicles, re-imagining tourism and digital transformation.

General Manager of the IDB’s Country Department Caribbean Group (CCB), Therese Turner-Jones said, “The Pivot Event is unlike anything ever done in the Caribbean and it could not come at a more relevant time for the region as we battle a myriad of challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 global pandemic. More than ever, we need the boldest, most ambitious thinking to drive the region forward.”

The Pivot Event follows The Pivot Search, a call for ideas from members of the public. Three winning ideas earned their owners $5000. The winners -- Arielle Du Quesnay with her Roam Caribbean App, Sirous Thampi with an idea for clean energy distribution, and Kelly Silvera with proposed AI electric vehicle fleets -- will all take part in The Pivot Event.

Working sessions take place on October 20th, 22nd, and 27th. The event culminates with the reveal of nine moonshot ideas on October 30th.

About the IDB

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance, and training to public- and private-sector clients throughout the region.

External Contacts

Golda Lee Bruce

Golda Lee Bruce
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