High-Level Dialogue: "Promoting Teaching and Learning of Spanish for Increased Competitiveness"

At present, Spanish is the second most widely spoken native language in the world; the number of native Spanish speakers is higher than that of English, Hindi, and Arabic, and second only to Mandarin Chinese. The Spanish-speaking community with native proficiency in the language is approaching 500 million. In 2024, the number of potential Spanish speakers worldwide surpasses 600 million for the first time. The number of native Spanish speakers outside Spanish-speaking countries exceeds 45 million. The number of Spanish speakers outside Spanish-speaking countries is close to 100 million, mainly due to their migratory background.

In 2024, more than 24 million people are learning Spanish worldwide. Spanish learners are mainly concentrated in the United States, the European Union, and Brazil, due to the relative importance of the language within formal education systems. Over the past 10 years, the number of Spanish learners has grown at an average rate of 2%, driven by its dynamism in countries of the European Union and in West and Central Africa (“El Español en el Mundo”, Anuario del Instituto Cervantes, 2024).

Spanish has become one of the most influential languages on the internet and social media, gaining remarkable visibility and reach both globally and across our region. It is estimated that the number of Spanish speakers will continue to grow over the next five decades, and by 2060, the United States will be the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, second only to Mexico. This underscores the importance of the Spanish language and highlights the need for global communication and learning channels for this language.

The Spanish Opens More Opportunities (SOMOS) initiative is particularly relevant for Barbados and its English-speaking Caribbean neighbours, which have long championed regional integration through institutions like the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). As Barbados continues to position itself as a forward-looking economy with strong regional and global linkages, deeper engagement with Spanish-speaking Latin America is both a strategic necessity and an opportunity. Expanding the pool of multilingual citizens, especially proficient Spanish speakers, will not only enhance employability and competitiveness but also strengthen Barbados’ role as a bridge between linguistic and cultural communities in the hemisphere.

Recognising this, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, is advancing a comprehensive strategy to Promote the Teaching, Learning, and Promotion of Spanish for Regional Integration in the English-Speaking Caribbean. This strategy acknowledges Barbados’ commitment to quality education and regional leadership and seeks to build on existing efforts while addressing current gaps. It considers the specific needs of the Barbadian society and economy, as well as the capacities of its education system and public institutions, to foster inclusive and sustainable growth through language learning.

The strategy is grounded in best practices from foreign language education, informed by evidence from similar programmes across the region and globally. It is underpinned by long-term partnerships and a forward-looking vision, one that recognises that language acquisition is an investment in human capital with transformative potential. For Barbados and the wider Caribbean, embracing multilingualism is essential for jointly tackling cross-border challenges such as climate resilience, digital inclusion, food security, and post-pandemic recovery, while also deepening cooperation with Latin America on shared development goals.

General Background

Spanish holds increasing relevance for Barbados’ trade and commercial ambitions. As Latin America continues to grow as a dynamic economic bloc, forging deeper connections with Spanish-speaking markets could open new avenues for exports, investment, and bilateral partnerships. The ability to communicate and negotiate in Spanish will be critical to positioning Barbados as a trusted, multilingual hub for commerce in the Caribbean.

In 2024, Barbados maintained active trade relationships with several Spanish-speaking countries, with the highest volume of trade recorded with Spain, reaching $24.0 million in imports and $2.3 million in exports. Mexico followed with $11.0 million in imports and $7.3 million in exports, reflecting a more balanced trade relationship. Trade with other Latin American countries totalled $7.0 million in imports and $4.0 million in exports. These figures highlight both the growing importance and potential of economic engagement between Barbados and Spanish-speaking markets, particularly in efforts to diversify trade partners and expand export opportunities (Source: Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.-BTMI, https://www.tourism.gov.bb/statistics,  Barbados Statistical Service- BSS), https://stats.gov.bb https://statistics.caricom.org).

Additionally, Barbados has shown a strong recovery in its tourism sector, with 740,340 total arrivals in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2018 (679,478). While most visitors come from traditional English-speaking markets, there is notable untapped potential in the Spanish-speaking segment. In 2024, just over 15,000 visitors arrived from Spanish-speaking countries (excluding Brazil), representing approximately 2% of total arrivals (Source: Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.-BTMI, https://www.tourism.gov.bb/statistics).

Investing in Spanish language education and integration is therefore not only a cultural enrichment strategy but a pragmatic economic move, supporting both regional trade expansion and tourism diversification. With clear growth trends in overall arrivals and growing regional ties through CARICOM and Latin American partnerships, Spanish can become a key enabler of Barbados' long-term economic vision.

In summary, the growing trade ties with Spanish-speaking nations and the rising number of Spanish-speaking tourists, highlight the demand for Spanish speakers in Barbados. However, the country, and the English-speaking Caribbean, have yet to fully leverage Spanish as a driver of trade, employability, and regional integration.

The "Promoting Teaching and Learning of Spanish for Increased Competitiveness" high-level dialogue is crucial for Barbados and the English-speaking Caribbean to adopt Spanish as a tool for economic and social development. To be held in Bridgetown, Barbados, it will serve as a platform to discuss how Spanish can enhance competitiveness, addressing challenges, opportunities, and collaborative strategies in trade, business, education, and tourism.

Key Messages

• Language is a strategic asset for trade and integration.
  • Spanish proficiency can strengthen Barbados’ position in regional markets, expand export potential, and deepen connections with Latin American partners.
• Cross-sector collaboration can help unlock new opportunities.
  • Partnerships across government, business, academia, and development actors can support the integration of Spanish language skills in priority sectors linked to economic growth.

• There is growing interest in exploring the role of Spanish in economic development.
  • This dialogue provides a platform for stakeholders to reflect on current opportunities, share perspectives, and consider areas where language skills can support national priorities.