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(Antigua and Barbuda and OPEC Fund Discuss Renewed Development Cooperation at SIDS Summit)
Antigua and Barbuda and the OPEC Fund for International Development have taken steps to renew and deepen their longstanding partnership, following a high-level bilateral meeting held on the margins of the inaugural SIDS Summit in Vienna.
Hon. Sir Michael Joseph, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs and H.E. Ambassador Ruleta Camacho Thomas, Climate Ambassador, met with Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President of the OPEC Fund, and senior officials to discuss opportunities for collaboration in advancing national priorities in climate resilience, infrastructure, and sustainable development.
Dr. Alkhalifa recalled that Antigua and Barbuda was among the early partners of the OPEC Fund, with the first engagement dating back to 1982.
He acknowledged that while interaction had been limited in recent decades, the Fund is now taking deliberate steps to reconnect and rebuild a meaningful partnership with the country.
The President emphasized that the SIDS Summit was convened specifically to listen to the unique needs and perspectives of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
He underscored the importance of placing national priorities at the center of any cooperation framework and reiterated that the Fund’s role is to support, not prescribe.
Key Issues Discussed During the Meeting:
• Reinvigorating Development Cooperation: The parties discussed the potential to establish a structured, multi-year cooperation program to support national efforts in areas such as climate adaptation, sustainable infrastructure, and energy transition. The focus would include project identification and preparation through pre-feasibility and feasibility assessments.
• Flexible Technical Assistance: The OPEC Fund indicated its readiness to mobilize technical assistance through its partnerships, including with Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), to help advance integrated planning and investment readiness.
• Lessons from the Maldives: As a concrete example of sustained cooperation, the Fund shared its experience in the Maldives, where it is the largest international contributor to the water and sanitation sector, having invested over US$100 million to date. This was presented as a potential model for long-term engagement with Antigua and Barbuda.
• Capacity Building and Regional Expertise: Minister Joseph stressed that capacity building should be a cornerstone of future collaboration. He highlighted the University of the West Indies (UWI) as a key regional partner for training and institutional strengthening, particularly for enhancing domestic technical and policy capacity.
• Next Steps: The OPEC Fund committed work with the team from Antigua and Barbuda to refine the process for moving the cooperation forward, including identifying key milestones, coordination mechanisms, and timelines.
Minister Joseph welcomed the tone and substance of the discussions, stating:
“The OPEC Fund has shown a willingness to listen and engage on our terms.
This meeting reflects a shared commitment to work together in building resilience and delivering sustainable development outcomes for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.”
This dialogue marks a significant turning point in the Antigua and Barbuda–OPEC Fund relationship, reopening a channel of cooperation that dates back more than four decades, and setting the stage for a future built on trust, alignment, and shared purpose.
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