Business Barbados - 2023 Edition

create diplomatic parity. The Metaverse Embassy will be an accessible virtual hub for consular services and the development of new foreign relations, all the while showcasing Barbadian culture and promoting investment in a manner never before seen. The objective is to transcend the geographical constraints typically experienced by small island developing states by extending Barbados’ reach digitally. Technology Diplomacy is a persistent mission to improve the lives of Barbadians and redefine governance systems through the use of technology. This move embodies the Barbados Expo2020 vision to move forward ‘from sugarcane to blockchain’. Barbados is pioneering Technology Diplomacy, which leverages technology to position the country on the world stage and redefine the way that small island nations interact with other nations. Technology is an essential tool for Barbados to boost the growth of its economy, expanding its reach, its competitiveness and resilience to climate change and other global challenges. Technology Diplomacy focuses on building diplomatic relations with other nations by collaboratively finding solutions to global problems using technology and creating bilateral friendships as a result. Barbados is at the forefront of this charge, becoming the first government to adopt metaverse technology for diplomacy in an effort to This novel approach to diplomacy has already demonstrated how small and emerging nations can earn a seat at the table, capturing the attention of technology-focused nations like the United Arab Emirates. Barbados’ leadership in redefining diplomacy will give small nations a voice on the world stage, and a technology- focused channel to support their sustainable development. The idea of being “friends of all, and satellites of none” will become all the more apparent as we deepen trade relationships, strengthen institutional communication and enhance cultural cooperation with other nation states and citizens via technology. Barbados Pioneers Technology Diplomacy 77 BUSINESS BARBADOS 2023 T E C H N O L O G Y D I P L O M A C Y