PwC: 70% of Leaders across The Bahamas and The Caribbean remain Optimistic about Global Economic Growth

PwC’s 2025 Global CEO Survey indicated that nearly 70% of corporate leaders across The Bahamas and the Caribbean remained optimistic about global economic growth over the next 12 months. This positive outlook was attributed to CEOs focusing on strategic investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and climate initiatives while also identifying cyber risks and inflation as the most significant threats for the year ahead.

The survey, which gathered responses from 4,701 CEOs worldwide across 109 countries and territories, revealed that nearly half of Caribbean CEOs planned to integrate AI—including Generative AI—into their technology platforms over the next three years. Additionally, over a third intended to incorporate AI into core business processes and workflows on a large scale. This momentum aligned with global trends, as CEOs worldwide increasingly prioritized AI to enhance efficiency, profitability, and revenue growth.

Furthermore, the report highlighted that 42% of Caribbean CEOs expected to expand their workforce by 5% or more over the next year, more than doubling the percentage of those who anticipated reductions. Specifically, 44% planned to increase headcount, while only 22% foresaw job cuts.

Despite the optimism, cyber risks remained a primary concern, with 31% of Caribbean CEOs identifying them as a top threat for the coming year. Inflation and workforce capabilities were also significant risks, each cited by 28% of respondents. On a global scale, cyber risks continued to be a major challenge as organizations faced increasing digital vulnerabilities. The survey also revealed that only 2% of businesses worldwide had implemented comprehensive resilience measures to address these risks, highlighting a gap in preparedness—particularly for Caribbean companies, which underscored the need for stronger cybersecurity strategies.

Prince Rahming, Territory Leader of PwC Bahamas, noted that Caribbean CEOs consistently expressed confidence in continued economic growth into 2025. However, he emphasized that in order to fully capitalize on this momentum, it would be crucial to focus on reinvention alongside investments in AI and climate change initiatives. He pointed out that these efforts aligned with global priorities in sustainability and innovation, while also stressing the importance of enhancing workforce capabilities and strengthening public-private partnerships to ensure long-term prosperity and resilience.

The need for reinvention emerged as another key takeaway from the survey. In line with global trends, 42% of CEOs worldwide believed their companies would not remain viable over the next decade without substantial changes. While the Caribbean data showed a slightly more positive outlook, with only 28% of local CEOs sharing this concern, the urgency for transformation remained strong. In response, more than 58% of Caribbean CEOs reported making significant efforts over the past five years to alter how their companies created, delivered, and captured value. Those who had taken greater steps toward reinvention reported improved profit margins over the past year, though the overall pace of transformation remained slow. Approximately half of Caribbean CEOs disclosed that they reallocated only 10% or less of their financial and human resources between projects annually, a trend that mirrored global findings.

Regarding AI, while optimism around its potential was high, trust in the technology remained a barrier. Fewer than one-third of Caribbean CEOs expressed a high level of confidence in integrating AI into key business processes. However, those who demonstrated greater trust in AI reported stronger results from its application over the past 12 months and anticipated even greater benefits moving forward. Nearly half of Caribbean CEOs planned to integrate AI into their technology platforms within the next three years, with approximately 47% intending to do so to a moderate extent and 19% to a large or very large extent. These figures suggested that as AI adoption increased, its impact on business operations would become more significant.

Matt Wood, PwC’s Global and US Commercial Technology & Innovation Officer, observed that the survey reflected a more mature perspective on AI within enterprises. He noted that CEOs were increasingly confident in AI’s potential to unlock new opportunities and were more optimistic compared to the previous year. However, he also pointed out that business leaders had become more aware of the challenges involved in fully realizing AI’s value, shifting their focus toward building trust in AI systems and integrating them into core business processes to drive innovation and growth.

The survey further emphasized the growing importance of climate-friendly investments. Nearly half of Caribbean CEOs—42%—reported having a portion of their personal compensation linked to sustainability metrics, highlighting the increasing role of climate considerations in business strategy. Globally, climate-friendly investments were associated with higher profit margins, and this trend was also evident in the Caribbean, where 45% of CEOs reported tangible benefits from their climate-related investments. This reinforced the importance of sustainable practices in driving long-term business growth.

Kevin Cambridge, PwC’s Regional Sustainability Leader for the Caribbean, stressed the significance of prioritizing sustainability. He remarked that creating value through sustainability required CEOs to challenge themselves and their teams to develop climate-friendly products, services, and technologies. He also emphasized the need for companies to critically assess their resource use and energy consumption. He urged business leaders to take action immediately, stating that whether they were already making progress or just beginning their sustainability journey, fostering a culture of innovation and agility would be essential in helping Caribbean CEOs navigate future challenges and build resilient, future-ready businesses.

The findings from PwC’s 2025 Global CEO Survey underscored a strong sense of optimism among Caribbean business leaders, driven by commitments to innovation, AI adoption, and sustainable growth. However, they also highlighted the ongoing challenges that needed to be addressed to ensure long-term success in an increasingly complex and volatile global landscape.

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