The Bahamas Investor

...nd advice with what to do with that wealth. We can provide a wide range of services for this very dynamic region of the world.” But with big US banks already clamouring for market share, it is also a very competitive region. Many wealthy Latin American families have strong ties with the US through family, property or investments, so banking with US firms such as J P Morgan or Morgan Stanley, is commonplace. To compete like for like would present a......

...t ship registry in the world, The Bahamas is looking to explore synergy in financial services, residential sales and tourism. Click here to browse the digital version of the July 2015 issue of The Bahamas Investor Magazine. “We want to introduce shipowners to Bahamian financial services and the skilled labour pool available in The Bahamas. We are looking beyond just being a registrant for shipowners and their ships, but also to encourage them to b......

...nce as being key drivers of LATAM business to The Bahamas. The Minister of Financial Services Hope Strachan in her first address to an international audience as Minister of Financial Services, highlighted the government’s commitment to the financial services sector and her own Ministry’s active role in ensuring that the policy framework supports its further growth and expansion. “While many countries in Latin America have achieved greater levels o......

...o move forward with confidence, and strengthens its financial services platform for the facilitation of private wealth management on a global basis. EPR reflects the history of outstanding commitment to the financial services industry. This commitment comes in many shapes and forms, not the least of which are our sovereignty and historic political stability. Both have served the industry well in the past. As wealthy individuals, their advisors, in......

...et their EPA obligations. Regionally, some $200 million has been set aside for CARIFORUM to assist in implementing the agreement. In the meantime, an EPA Cabinet Implementation Committee continues to monitor the country’s progress. Officials say once implemented, the agreement provides legal certainty to investors not only from Europe but from other CARIFORUM countries who seek to invest in The Bahamas. Says Laing:?“It not only outlines the areas......

...chief executive officer and co-chair for the Private Sector Education Task Force for VAT Edison Sumner discusses the pros and cons of introducing the consumption tax and its impact on the business community in The Bahamas. Q: What are the implications of VAT for the business community and investors? A: Value added tax was introduced in The Bahamas at a rate of 7.5 per cent on most goods and services. To date more than 7,000 businesses have become......

...iner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response through its TITAN Salvage subsidiary; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime......

...murmurings of a possible collaboration since 2001. But it took three years for a formal meeting to be held and for the respective groups to realize that a combined organization would be beneficial to both entities. “Both organizations felt it would be strategic to pool their resources to become a more unified and stronger voice for the private sector, and to help improve [the organizations’] weak institutional capacities brought on by high debts,......

...g high quality, high speed Wi-Fi to its clients. The company is also known for its tech support services, and already has an impressive portfolio of big names in the hotel industry as their clients. Jackson Weech the General Manager of Breezes Bahamas sounded excited about the hotel’s partnership with Copia, “We certainly find Copia to be an upgrade from our past provider. The improved coverage and support gives us a WiFi service we can promote wi......

...has become a model for many countries looking to update and improve public services. Transforming government services through the modernization and digitization of the public sector is a top priority for the Minnis administration, and is one of the key areas being monitored and supported by the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit. A Modernization Unit has been established in the Office of the Prime Minister, and senior government officials took part in......

...nt interface. These will include further expansion of the e-government platform for a number of government programmes and services, including the e-submission of declarations to customs as of June 1, the e-submission of correspondence to the Ministry of Finance as of July and the e-submission of requests for exemptions as of August. He added that reforms are underway to make key government agencies more customer-friendly and their services more ea......

...ally move expeditiously on projects presented by foreign direct investors. For many foreign investors, capacity and proximity are extremely important factors in a jurisdiction, and luckily The Bahamas is not lacking in either of those arenas. Areas of opportunity There is no denying the potential for innovative projects on The Bahamas’ Family Islands for the savvy, creative investor. Growing sectors such as technology and renewable energy, as well......

...lar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It’s Better in The Bahamas.For more information on travel packages, activities and accommodations, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit Bahamas.com. Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Pictured: Bahamas Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe (centre) participates in a panel discussion during Caribbean Week in New York City June 2. (Photo ©2015 Creative Solutions & Imaging) Pictured:......

...xplore investment opportunities in The Bahamas in the tourism, industrial, financial services, and shipping sectors, and trade,” said a Ministry of Tourism spokesperson. “Also, it seeks to encourage the growing presence of Asian businesses in The Bahamas and to foster closer diplomatic ties with countries such as China, Malaysia and Singapore.” A spokesman for IAGA described the gaming advisors meeting as “the industry’s premier summit, bringing t......

...ransmission and distribution systems and for billing, collection, customer services and other relevant services across The Bahamas. The second company will be a new generation service company, which will be responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair, financing of BEC’s current electricity generation facilities and certain other assets located across The Bahamas, as well as the development of new power generation plant. It will enter into a......