Cayman Maritime Gateway Initiative (CMGI): infrastructure readiness, Phases 1 and 2

Phase 1 (delivered)

Capital-structure analysis comparing blended-led, grant-led and equity-led scenarios; a Cabinet briefing gap analysis and a revised 15-page Cabinet briefing for PACI finance leadership; and the Phase 1 acceptance and value-delivered package, which won the retained Phase 2 mandate.

Phase 2: the readiness-and-structuring bridge

Phase 2 takes the initiative from the 2024 business case PACI already held to a fundable case that international financiers can commit against. DFC, USTDA, EXIM and the FCDO are being engaged; none has committed.

1. U.S. financing engagement: A plan and materials to engage the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and EXIM, and to lodge a USTDA feasibility-grant application to fund the studies.
2. U.K. / FCDO channel: Design of the Investment Incentive Agreement pathway through the UK FCDO, which opens access to U.S. development finance.
3. Business-case uplift and affordability re-test: An updated business case and financial model adding the blended-finance structure the 2024 case lacked, and re-testing whether the transformational option is affordable.
4. Gap-closure studies, scoped and procured: A precise scope for only the studies the fundable case needs (much of it grant-funded), with support to procure and manage them.
5. Full Business Case and financial model: The funder-standard case against which DFC, EXIM, CDB and equity investors commit capital.

Deliverables 1–4 are one fixed-price engagement; the Full Business Case follows once the studies are complete.

A working session in Grand Cayman identified lower-cost site options and new revenue lines such as shore power and bunkering.

12-week timeline

1. Weeks 1–2Mobilisation, DFC follow-up and USTDA grant application
2. Weeks 3–6Business-case uplift, affordability re-test and FCDO / IIA design
3. Weeks 6–12Studies scope and procurement; Full Business Case build starts as study results arrive

The funding ladder

1. 01ReadinessNow
2. 02Feasibility grants and technical assistanceUSTDA, U.S. State Department / CBSI
3. 03Regional digital and securityPMAC programme
4. 04Capital programmeBlended stack: DFC, EXIM, CDB, equity

← Infrastructure readiness