The Bahamas Investment Authority in partnership with the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Commonwealth Business Council will host the Bahamas International Investment and Business Forum (BIIF), 20–22 February, 2013 in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Under the theme “At the Crossroads of 21st Century Trade and Investment,” the forum will highlight the key advantages The Bahamas, and Grand Bahama in particular, will have in capitalizing on the expansion of the Panama Canal, which is due to be completed in 2014.

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For the sixth year running, leading timeshare marketplace RedWeek.com releases its list of Top 25 timeshare rental resorts. The Top 25 ranking is calculated using statistics from the site’s more than 1.5 million registered users.

Back in the number one spot after falling to number two in 2012 is Disney’s Beach Club Villas in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Harborside Resort at Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas, secures second place after taking the top spot last year. Another Disney resort, Boardwalk Villas, climbs this year from number 10 to number four.

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In 2013, the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) will focus its attention on several key local and international initiatives, according to Aliya Allen, chief executive officer and executive director.

She made the disclosure at the 10th International Business and Finance Summit held at Bimini Bay last weekend.

The summit brought together around 140 financial services practitioners to discuss how the jurisdiction might position itself to “stay head of the game.” It included a focus on staying ahead of initiatives of impact to the industry, as well as a focus on collaborating with government to streamline business processes.

Allen said the BFSB has revived its work on tax reform in The Bahamas. A sub group of BFSB’s International Initiatives Working Group recently met to discuss particular issues of relevance to the financial services sector.

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The Ministry of Financial Services will “aggressively” explore growth centers over the next few months, says Ryan Pinder, the minister with Cabinet responsibilities for the industry.

His comments came during day one of Bahamas Financial Services Board’s (BFSB) 10th International Business Finance Summit (IBFS) held at Bimini Bay Resort February 1-3.

The meeting opened with the minister unveiling his 10-year strategy to revamp and re-invigorate the Bahamian business services industry.

The conference was held under the theme: “The Bahamas Advantage: Staying ahead of the game.”

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The closure of Gibraltar Global Securities and the International Business and Finance Summit top the news agenda this week. Watch the full ZNS Business Beat roundup here.
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Arbitration experts met in The Bahamas last week to discuss ways in which The Bahamas could become a regional hub for dispute resolution.

Speaking at a seminar organized by the Bahamas Institute of Financial Services (BIFS), Nancy Thevenin, special counsel for Baker & McKenzie’s International Arbitration Practice Group, highlighted the importance of having the necessary infrastructure, saying: “It is no good to have a centre [for arbitration] if people do not want to be here.”

She pointed out that The Bahamas was already well equipped for arbitration, with a legal framework in place, good transport links, modern infrastructure and a ready pool of professionals.

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Outlining The Bahamas strategy to compete in an ever-changing regulatory environment, Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder firmly believes a first class international business center requires first class talent at all levels.

“My Ministry cannot stress this enough,” he told industry stakeholders at the Bahamas Financial Services Board’s (BFSB) 10th International Business Finance Summit (IBFS) held at Bimini Bay Resort February 1-3.

At the government level, Pinder expressed his Ministry’s commitment to facilitating the continued education, professional programmes and certifications for high-level executives throughout the sector.

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The Straw Market Authority is looking to acquire the market on Paradise Island. Watch an interview with Ron Pinder, chairman of the Straw Market Authority, here.
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In a bid to increase the efficiency of the Registry Department, the government and the private sector has commenced several projects, key among them is one enabling a company to be entirely incorporated online, said Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson.

“Our objective is for our Registry to be the most efficient registry in the region,” Maynard Gibson told financial services practitioners at the Bahamas Financial Services Board’s (BFSB) 10th International Business Finance Summit (IBFS) held at Bimini Bay Resort February 1-3. Her Ministry has responsibilities for the government department.

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