TCI Selected Among Top Proposals in World Bank AI Accelerator Initiative

The Turks and Caicos Islands has secured a major regional achievement after being selected as one of the winning countries in a competitive World Bank-led artificial intelligence initiative, according to Minister of Innovation, Technology and Energy, Hon. E. Jay Saunders.

Minister of Innovation, Technology, Energy and Information Hon. E. Jay Saunders

Minister Saunders announced that the TCI Government successfully submitted a proposal to the Digital Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) AI Accelerator, a World Bank-supported programme aimed at advancing innovative AI solutions across the region.

“Thanks to God, we were selected as one of the winners from 59 entries,” Saunders said, expressing pride in the accomplishment.

The accelerator programme attracted 59 AI solution proposals from across Latin America and the Caribbean, reflecting strong regional interest in leveraging artificial intelligence to improve government services, strengthen public sector efficiency, and enhance data-driven policymaking.

According to official correspondence from the World Bank, the initiative focuses on fostering the development and implementation of early-stage AI use cases, particularly those aligned with improving service delivery and promoting more efficient governance.

The six-month programme will provide selected teams with technical and strategic support, including mentorship, training, and guidance in developing AI-driven solutions from concept to pilot stage.

TCI is set to take an early lead in the programme, as it made its first official presentation Friday, where the country outlined its proposed AI use case.

Minister Saunders emphasized that the selection is not only a national achievement but also a sign of the territory’s growing influence in regional innovation.

“I’m very proud that our proposal was selected, because it shows that as a country, we are starting to take on thought leadership roles within the Latin American and Caribbean region,” he said.

The World Bank initiative envisions empowering governments across the region to harness artificial intelligence to modernize public services, drive innovation, and build more inclusive digital economies.

TCI’s inclusion among the top proposals positions the country at the forefront of digital transformation efforts in the Caribbean, signaling a strategic shift toward embracing emerging technologies in governance and national development.