Welcome to Grand Bahama Island, the Silicon Island of the Region.

Notice: Due to the recent passage of Hurricane Dorian and the devastation in its aftermath on the island of Grand Bahama, the Grand Bahama Technology Summit has been postponed. A new date will be announced in January 2020. To keep abreast of our continued developments within the Grand Bahama Tech Hub initiative, please visit our website regularly for updates.

About The 2019 Grand Bahama Technology Summit

The Office of the Prime Minister, Grand Bahama was given a mandate by the Bahamas Government in May 2017 to focus on the development of Freeport as an offshore technology hub similar to Silicon Valley.

As a result of this mandate, in November 2017 a call went out to local and international key industry stakeholders to CONNECT – EXPLORE – INVEST. This became the genesis of the GRAND BAHAMA TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT.

This event is designed to establish and grow the technology industry sector in Grand Bahama similar to that of the Tourism and Financial Services sectors.

CONNECT – The Grand Bahama Technology Summit connects Entrepreneurs, Innovators, Investors, knowledge professionals, service providers, Executives, Tech Enthusiasts, Policymakers and others in one place building relationships.

EXPLORE – The Grand Bahama Technology Summit encourages the exploration of existing policies, legislation and skills capacity of our workforce. Further it causes us to explore avenues to create entrepreneurial opportunities. In addition, the Summit invites our visitors to explore the digital paradise and experience our rich culture.

INVEST – Grand Bahama Island is indeed open for business and with the recently enacted Commercial Enterprises Act and the establishment of the Grand Bahama Investment Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister, the ease of doing business just got better. Grand Bahama’s geographical position approximately 60 miles off the coast of Florida, with a world-class infrastructure, stable Government and other exciting investor friendly amenities makes it an ideal home for innovators, high-growth high impact start-ups and businesses that are expanding both at home and abroad.

Grand Bahama Island, the gateway for innovation and technology is establishing it’s footprint in the global ecosystem as the Silicon Island of the Caribbean.

The 2019 Grand Bahama Technology Summit is co-organized by the Government of the Bahamas in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The Summit serves as the country’s premier technology event showcasing The Bahamas as a technology friendly jurisdiction. A jurisdiction equipped with modern legislative framework, financial and immigration policies for all investor-types wishing to establish regional/global headquarters within Grand Bahama’s designated Free Economic Zone.

The purpose of this year’s summit is:

To update stakeholders and attendees on The Bahamas’ Digitization/Modernization roll out.
To outline growth and milestones of The Grand Bahama Technology Hub Initiative.
Introduce new Immigration (BH1B Visa) and Financial Sector (DARE Bill) legislation.
To engage/connect entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, service providers, technologists, and key policymakers.
Provide a platform to discuss trends in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Financing, Smart Initaitives and Internet of Things while at the same time providing a platform to discuss some of the potential opportunities and challenges that the Caribbean region may face as it relates to policies, regulations and investments in this dynamic new era.

Summit Highlights

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Forum on Artificial Intelligence, IoT and Smart Initiatives
BH1 B Visa Forum
Exhibitors Hall
Cultural Festival

Speakers

Official Opening by
Dr. The Hon. Hubert Minnis
Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas

Remarks by
Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator Kwasi Thompson

12:00pm – 1:30pm	Registration
1:30pm – 5:30pm	Artificial Intelligence In Action
7:00pm – 9:30pm	Opening Ceremony Welcome remarks ITU Remarks Keynote Speaker Thank You Photo Session

7:30 – 8:30	Registration
8:30 – 9:30	Session 1: What is AI and its future – Artificial Intelligence Enabling Technologies
9:30 –10:30	Session 2: ITU-T Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health Care
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:30	Session 3: Machine Learning for Future Networks including 5G
12 :30 – 2:00pm	Lunch
2:00- 3:00	Session 5: Digital Financing (panel): Bahamas electronic payments DFS development
3:00-4:00	Session 6 (mini presentations): Developing Mobile Financial Services in Bahamas
4:00 – 4:30	Coffee Break
4:30 – 5:45	Session 3 (mini presentations): Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Caribbean perspectives

8:30 – 9:30	Session 1 : BDT: Regulations in a Futuristic World
9:30 – 10:30	Session 2: Proactive Policies
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:45	Session3: Regulatory Approaches and Frameworks
12:45 – 2:00	Lunch
2:00 – 3:00	Session 4 : Overview of experiences
3:00 – 4:00	Session 5 : Session 3: Cyber Security A. How can we ensure Artificial Intelligence is safe and secure
4:00 – 5:00	Session 6: Spectrum Management for 5G
11:45 – 12:30	TBD
	Close of Day

8:30 – 9:30	Session 1: BDT
9:30 – 10:30	Session 2: Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:45	Session 3: Regulatory and Ethical Frameworks for Robots
12:45 – 2:00	Lunch
2:00 – 3:00	Session 4: Ethical Considerations for Big Data in Smart Cities
3:00 – 4:00	Session 5: Panel Discussion
	Close of Day

Event Schedule

Please note that the following is a draft schedule, and is subject to change prior to the event.

Day 1 – Monday 28^th October 2019
7:00 – 8:30	Registration
8:30:00 -10:00	Opening Ceremony Master of Ceremonies - TBC National Anthem Prayers Welcome remarks: (5mins) (URCA) Major Sponsor : ( 8 mins) TBC Major Sponsor : (8 mins) TBC Speaker: Minister of Sen. The Hon J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama (15 mins) TU Remarks: (TBC) (8 mins) Keynote Speaker: Dr. Hubert Alexander Minnis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas Thank You: (URCA) (5mins) Close of Ceremony
10:00 – 10:30	Photo Session and Coffee Break Sponsored by:
AI for Health, Education and Agriculture
10:30 – 11:30	Session 1: What is AI and where is it headed - Artificial Intelligence Enabling Technologies” “AI will have the greatest impact when everyone can access its benefits. On the other hand, every government, company, university, international institution, civil society organization and every single one of us should consider how best to work together to ensure AI serves as a positive force for humanity," said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. Therefore this session seeks to bring a basic understanding of what AI is and the potential impact for the Caribbean. Moderator: TBC Speakers: Feature Speaker 1 : (20 mins): Keni Simola, Board of Executives keni.simola@hundred.org or keni@hundred.org 2 Sponsors : (20 mins): Discussion panel with speakers.
11:30 –12:30pm	Session 2: Youth Innovation : A conversation with the Minister ICT enabled skills, services and applications play an important role in improving youth's socio-economic status. Furthermore, youth are 'early adopters' of ICT based technologies and are viewed as driving growth and innovation in the sector. This session is a platform where some Bahamian youth innovators engage with the minister and discuss the issues of innovation in the country, the challenges and opportunities. Panel Discussion: Minister of Sen. The Hon J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama Speakers: TBC
12 :30 – 2:00pm	Lunch Sponsored by:
2:00- 3:00pm	Session 3: Youth Innovation ICT enabled skills, services and applications play an important role in improving youth's socio-economic status. Furthermore, youth are 'early adopters' of ICT based technologies and are viewed as driving growth and innovation in the sector. This session is a platform where some Bahamian youth innovators discuss the issues of innovation in the country with some leaders in the industry. Moderator: TBC: Ministry of Education Representative. Speakers: Speaker 1 : (10 mins): Sandra Cortesi, Fellow and Director of Youth and Media Berkman Klein Centre for Internet & Society at Harvard University scortesi@cyber.harvard.edu Speaker 2 : (10 mins) Shlomy Kattan, Senior Director, Learning and Human Potential Impact Architecture (xPrize) shlomy@xprize.org Speaker 3: Bahamian Youth Innovator (10 mins): Speaker 4: Bahamian Youth Innovator (10 mins) Discussion panel with speakers.
3:00 – 4:30pm	Session 4: AI and Education The world is changing dramatically, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more integrated into society and work. As such, approaches to education are being reimagined. This session will discuss ICT’s use in education in the Caribbean region and how AI can be leveraged to improve education. Moderator: TBC: Maria Luciana Axente, AI Programme Driver & AI for Good Lead (PWC) Maria.axente@pwc.com Speakers: Feature Speaker 1 : (20 mins): TBC - Shlomy Kattan, Senior Director, Learning and Human Potential, Impact Architecture Sholmy@xprize.org 1. Sponsor : (10 mins): Ministry of Education Representative: (10 mins): Discussion panel with speakers.
4:30 – 5:00pm	Coffee break
5:00 – 6:30pm	Session5: AI and Health This session seeks to provide an overview of the activities of the ITU’s Focus Group on AI for Health, and how AI and machine learning can revolutionize healthcare in the Caribbean region. The session would also involve discussions on the relevant SDGs, challenges and opportunities for the health sector using ICTs. Moderator: TBC Speakers: Feature Speaker: (20 mins): ITU-T Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health Care - Mr. Thomas Wiegand, Executive Director, SG Chairman Sponsor : (15 mins): Dr. Soumya Swainathan, Chief Scientist (WHO) swaminathans@who.int Speaker 2 : (5 mins) Discussion panel with speakers
	End of Day
Day 2 Digital Financing, Youth Innovation and Cybersecurity
7:00-8:00am	Registration
8:00- 9:30	Session 6: Digital Financing Nearly half the world’s population do not have access to financial services, and most of those people live in remote, rural or isolated communities. Digitalization presents tremendous opportunities for these people. Bahamas has taken some bold steps to transform the way it does business. This session seeks to understand the Bahamian experience in digital financing as a possible blueprint for other Caribbean countries. (Repeated in session 6 and 7 summary) Moderator: Gevon Moss (IADB) Presenters (5 mins each): TBD (Central Bank of Bahamas) TBD (Government) Suzanee Pattusch (Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association) Dr. Donovan Moxey (MyMobileAssist) (Panel): Bahamas electronic payments DFS development
9:30-10:45	Session 7 (mini presentations): Developing Mobile Financial Services in Bahamas Nearly half the world’s population do not have access to financial services, and most of those people live in remote, rural or isolated communities. Digitalization presents tremendous opportunities for these people. Bahamas has taken some bold steps to transform the way it does business. This session seeks to understand the Bahamian experience in digital financing as a possible blueprint for other Caribbean countries. Moderator: Dr. Donovan Moxey (MyMobileAssist) Panelist (10 Mins each): TBD (Digicel MMG representative from Guyana) Barry Malcolm (Suncash) Harvey Morris (Omni Financial Group) TBD
10:45 – 11:15	Coffee Break Sponsored by:
11:15 – 12:30	Session 8 (mini presentations): Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Caribbean perspectives Nearly half the world’s population do not have access to financial services, and most of those people live in remote, rural or isolated communities. Digitalization presents tremendous opportunities for these people. Bahamas has taken some bold steps to transform the way it does business. This session seeks to understand the Bahamian experience in digital financing as a possible blueprint for other Caribbean countries. Moderator: Shiva Bissessar (Pinaka Consulting) Presenters( 5 mins each) : TBD (Central Bank of Bahamas) TBD (ECCB) TBD (Central Bank Curacao & St Maarteen)
12 :30 – 2:00pm	Lunch Sponsored by:
2:00- 3:30pm	Session 9: AI and Agriculture Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been particularly promising in tackling agricultural challenges such as lack of expertise, climate change, resource optimization and consumer trust. This session seeks to discuss the issues mentioned, applications, proposed solutions and many others that are facing the Caribbean region. Moderator: TBC Speakers: Feature Speaker : (20 mins): David Huges, UN Fellow, Plant Production and Protection Division (FAO) David.hughes@fao.org Speaker 1 : (5 mins): Speaker 2 : (5 mins): Discussion panel with speakers.
3:30 – 4:00pm	Coffee Break Sponsored by:
4:00 – 5:45pm	Session 10: Cyber Security : With cutting-edge technologies, the impact is not always good for all users. There is a growing fear concerning, not only security, but that governments, companies and other agencies may be gatherings and monitoring users’ data and information. Many are therefore asking for instance how can we ensure Artificial Intelligence is safe and secure? Also, what are the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy use of technologies. This session seeks to address these and other ICT related security questions. Moderator: TBC Feature Speaker : Mr. Marco Obiso (ITU) Speakers : Speaker 1 : (10 mins): Mr. Mustapha Benjillali Sponsor : (10 mins): TBC Speaker 2: (10 mins) : Mr. Patrick Hosein ,University of the West Indies Discussion panel with speakers
	End of Day

Day 3 Regulations in a Growing “Intelligent Environment” and Smart Initiatives
7:00-8:00am	Registration
8:00- 9:00	Session 11: The Future of ICT Regulations AI, IMT-2020 and other developments are expected to be rolled out as of 2020, with 5G trials and pre-commercial activities already underway to support drones, applications such as smart homes and buildings, smart cities, 3D video, work and play in the cloud, remote medical surgery, virtual and augmented reality, and massive machine-to-machine communications, to name a few. With these opportunities come some challenges for ICT regulators with spectrum; stability, security and reliability. This session seeks to share on some important ICT policies and regulations that the Caribbean region needs to consider in this new ecosystem. Moderator: Mrs. Sofie Madden Presenter: Mustapha Benjillali Topics : Regulatory Approaches and Frameworks : Proactive Policies : Overview of European Experiences in ICT Regulations
9:00-10:30	Session 12: Caribbean Readiness for AI and Other Evolving Technologies Regulations. Following from Session 10, this session is a panel discussion on the Caribbean’s current ICT policies and regulations, and its state of readiness for an evolving AI environment Moderator: Cleveland Thomas - ITU Panelist (5 mins each): Mrs. Bernadette Lewis – SG, CTU Mr. Stephen Bereaux – CEO URCA Mr. Sofie Madded – ITU Mr. Cordel Green, Executive Director - Broadcasting Commission, Jamaica Mustapha Benjillali
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee Break Sponsored by:
11:00 – 12:30	Session 13: What is IOT and Smart Initiatives and its future (this session is administered by the TSB) Moderator: TBC Presenters: TBC: Christopher Sciacca, Manager, Communications, Global labs (IBM) cia@zurich.ibm.com TSB: TBC – Kenny Chen, Executive Director Co-Founder (Partnership to Advance Responsible Technology, (P.A.R.T)
12 :30 – 2:00pm	Lunch Sponsored by:
2:00- 3:00pm	Session 14: The Importance of Standardization- TSB High-quality international standards; delivered using an efficient, inclusive standardization process; supporting ICT growth and innovation across a wide range of industry sectors; bridging development divides as well as gender divides – this is the ultimate aim of ITU standardization as indicated by Chaesub Lee Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. Moderator: TBC Speakers: Speaker 1 : (10 mins): Speaker 2 : (10 mins): Speaker 3 : (10 mins):
3:00 – 3:30pm	Coffee Break Sponsored by:
3:30 – 5:00pm	Session 15: Storytellers: Connecting AI innovators & problems owners The session recognizes the importance of and seeks to identify and discuss ways to bring together data science, international development, and storytelling to create structured data considering Caribbean cultures. Can storytellers capture their communities’ values and cultural heritage in metadata? Can AI preserve indigenous stories? Can endowing AI with a sense and understanding of culture bring machines closer to us as humans and make them easier to trust? Moderator: TBC Feature Speaker : Davar Ardalan, Founder and Storyteller in Chief at IVOW, davar@ivow.ai Speaker 1 : (10 mins): Speaker 2 : (10 mins): Discussion panel with speakers	Or Session 15: Why Invest In the Bahamas This session is a panel discussion to highlight the new opportunities for investors in Grand Bahama and the progress of the work of the Steering Committee Moderator: TBC Panelist Speaker 1 : (5 mins): Speaker 2 : (5 mins): Speaker 3 : (5 mins): Speaker 4 : (5 mins) Discussion panel with speakers
5:00pm – 5:30pm	Closing Ceremony Closing remarks: Minister of Sen. The Hon J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama Vote of Thanks: URCA

Venue

The event will take place at the Grand Lucayan Resort’s Convention Center. If you have any questions regarding the summit, feel free to contact us using the information below.

Grand Lucayan Convention Center
1 Seahorse Lane
Freeport, Grand Bahama
www.grandlucayan.com

info@grandbahamatechsummit.com

1-242-350-8578/8599/8585

Where to Stay

Getting to Grand Bahama Island is a breeze.

Hop a plane, board a cruise or depart on the Fast Ferry from Ft. Lauderdale and enjoy a relaxing glide to our tropical destination. Explore your transportation options and plan your trip to Grand Bahama Island today.

Book Your Stay