The Regional Investor of the Year Award (RIYA) is a collaborative initiative between Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) and Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) to recognize and promote the contribution of foreign and local investors to the Caribbean economy.
In 2013/2014, the RIYA focused on the creation of jobs by investors during a particularly difficult period for the world economy — the global financial crisis. In 2014/2015, the focus was on the contribution of regional investors to the green economy. For this year, 2015/2016, the RIYA will turn its attention to the topic of innovation and the contribution of local and foreign investors to advancing a new idea, devices, invention or methods into a good or service that creates value and satisfies a specific need for which customers will pay.
Investors must demonstrate that they have made significant contributions to advancing a new idea, device, invention or method in the Caribbean, and that this has had a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole in terms of sustainability, social responsibility and improvement of living or the potential for improving lives. However, it must be emphasized that this is not an award for innovation but investment in innovation, so the applicant must be a foreign or local investor.
Awards will be given to distinctive investment projects in 3 categories, namely:
- Â Local Investor of the Year Award: This award will seek to honour local investors, investors of Caribbean birth who have invested in operations in the region that have generated a significant impact.
- Â Foreign Investor of the Year Award: This award will seek to honour foreign investors (non-Caribbean nationals), who have invested in operations in the region.
- Â Special Awards: These special awards will be given at the discretion of the Evaluation Committee to outstanding applicants with special recognition given to women investors and young entrepreneurs who, through their business initiatives, have made a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the region.
An overall winner will be chosen from the successful candidates in the above categories and will be named Regional Investor of the Year Awardee 2015/16.
The aim is to feature these distinguished investors and their success stories in planned investment promotion campaigns, on the websites of both agencies and collateral material. In addition, the investor must demonstrate a willingness to participate in investment promotion campaigns, where resources allow.
Who can apply?
Local and Foreign investors, investing in the region may apply for these awards. An applicant may enter as a Local Investor or a Foreign Investor. A local investor or a foreign investor may also apply to the  Special Awards category. For partnerships or joint ventures, the partner with the highest stake in the operation will determine the category in which the applicant will be judged.
How to apply:
Applicants must fill out an application form and submit to the GIDC. Application forms can be obtained from the Grenada Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) by contacting Ms Renata Blair at 444-1035 or [email protected].
All submissions must be made to the GIDC by Monday, 29 March 2016 at 11:59 pm AST.
The award winners will be named at the upcoming Caribbean Investment Summit which will be held in Miami, USA on Friday, 13 May 2016.
