Key Takeaways
- • The Caribbean Alternative Investment Association (CARAIA), a newly incorporated not-for-profit entity, was officially launched on November 15, 2019, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, marking a formal institutional presence for regional alternative investment stakeholders.
- • CARAIA was incorporated in July 2019 and is governed by an Advisory Council composed of industry leaders, with membership spanning 25 corporate and institutional organizations across Jamaica, Bahamas, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados.
- • The association aims to promote expansion and development of private equity, venture capital, real estate, private credit, and other alternative investment vehicles across the Caribbean region.
- • Jamaica's Venture Capital Programme has demonstrated market viability, raising approximately $34 billion (US$265 million) in equity fund investments over four years preceding the association's launch, providing evidence of capital formation capacity in the region.
- • CARAIA's stated objectives include accelerating cross-border business growth, establishing industry best practices benchmarks, and increasing institutional investor participation in Caribbean alternative assets.
Summary
The Caribbean Alternative Investment Association (CARAIA) officially launched on November 15, 2019, establishing a formal institutional framework for regional stakeholders in alternative investments. Incorporated in July 2019, the not-for-profit entity represents a coordinated effort to develop the local and regional alternative investment industry through structured governance and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.
The association's membership comprises 25 prestigious corporate and institutional organizations with geographic representation across the Caribbean, including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. Leadership is provided through an Advisory Council made up of established industry figures, positioning CARAIA as a representative body for institutional-grade capital deployment in the region.
CARAIA's mandate encompasses private equity, venture capital, real estate, private credit, and related alternative asset classes. The association's strategic objectives focus on three primary outcomes: increasing potential for local and cross-country business growth, accelerating institutional adoption of industry best practices, and enhancing the investment environment for fund managers and institutional capital allocators operating in the Caribbean.
The timing of CARAIA's establishment reflects demonstrated market opportunity in Caribbean alternative assets. Jamaica's Venture Capital Programme had raised approximately $34 billion (US$265 million) in equity fund investments over the four-year period preceding the association's launch, indicating meaningful capital formation activity and institutional investor interest in regional alternative vehicles. This performance data provides empirical support for the association's market development objectives and suggests sufficient investor base and deal flow to support a dedicated industry association.
The association's membership comprises 25 prestigious corporate and institutional organizations with geographic representation across the Caribbean, including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. Leadership is provided through an Advisory Council made up of established industry figures, positioning CARAIA as a representative body for institutional-grade capital deployment in the region.
CARAIA's mandate encompasses private equity, venture capital, real estate, private credit, and related alternative asset classes. The association's strategic objectives focus on three primary outcomes: increasing potential for local and cross-country business growth, accelerating institutional adoption of industry best practices, and enhancing the investment environment for fund managers and institutional capital allocators operating in the Caribbean.
The timing of CARAIA's establishment reflects demonstrated market opportunity in Caribbean alternative assets. Jamaica's Venture Capital Programme had raised approximately $34 billion (US$265 million) in equity fund investments over the four-year period preceding the association's launch, indicating meaningful capital formation activity and institutional investor interest in regional alternative vehicles. This performance data provides empirical support for the association's market development objectives and suggests sufficient investor base and deal flow to support a dedicated industry association.
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