Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 17, 2018 (SKNIS): The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis came alive when over 250 persons comprising of Heads of Government, developers, service providers, investors and marketing agents gathered at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort for the official start of the Caribbean Investment Summit (CIS) 2018, held under the theme: “Unity in the Age of Division”.
The Summit, which runs from May 16-19, brings together Heads of Government from Citizenship by Investment (CBI) jurisdictions in the region including Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Saint Lucia, Grenada and host country St. Kitts and Nevis. The CIS is an annual industry event bringing together the above mentioned CBI jurisdictions and other key players to discuss relevant issues affecting the industry, as well as explore opportunities for further growth.
Les Khan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Citizenship Investment Unit (CIU) in St. Kitts and Nevis, welcomed the participants and encouraged them to use the summit as an avenue to learn and understand more about the Citizenship Investment Programme (CIP).
“I trust that with the vast array of presenters ranging from senior heads of government, banking, academia, due diligence, developers and service providers, you will walk away with a better understanding of the industry and the challenges being faced by all of us,” said the CEO. “But most importantly, that we in the Caribbean with CBI Programmes do work together and try to establish a better framework for cooperation.”
CEO Khan, implored participants to be open and frank in their discussions, while at the same time wishing them a successful and rewarding summit.
Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, echoed his pleasure of having the Federation host the summit after Antigua and Barbuda would have hosted it for two successive years. He acknowledged Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, the Honourable Gaston Browne, for passing on the baton to the Federation.
“It gives me great pride to hold the baton in my home country right here where the world’s very first Citizenship by Investment Programme started 34 years ago. Today, all of who are gathered here are operating in an industry that now generates among participating jurisdictions in the world billions of dollars in revenue each year and comprises a significant share our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in many CIP jurisdictions,” said Prime Minister Harris.
Dr. Harris wished all a very productive summit and encouraged participants to be interactive, especially in the discussions as it will redound to the benefit of all CBI jurisdictions. He commended all involved, especially the organizers in ensuring that St. Kitts and Nevis hosts a successful summit.
St. Kitts and Nevis was the first country in the world to implement a CBI Programme, dating as far back as 1984. The federation’s programme caters to only legitimate investors, as the rebranded programme is now the “Platinum Standard” globally.
