The Virgin Islands has been elected to serve as a Director on the executive board for the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA).

Policy Analyst and Strategic Advisor in the Premier’s Office, Ms. Lizette George was recently elected Director 4 of the organisation’s executive board, as she currently serve as the Virgin Islands Representative.

 The Virgin Islands officially became members of the association in January 2017.

Ms. George said, “This was accomplished through the attendance of the then Junior Minister for Trade & Investment, Honourable Marlon Penn to the annual Caribbean Investment Summit in Miami in May 2016 and subsequently the annual general meeting in Curacao in June.”

Ms. George stated, “Honourable Penn’s attendance at these events proved fruitful as he was able to explore the option of membership by building the appropriate relationship with the executives.”

She said, “This was a strategic move to ensure that the BVI capitalised on the ongoing initiatives, as well as take advantage of the opportunities for capacity building and technical assistance in establishing an investment promotion agency and developing a comprehensive investment strategy and legislative framework.”

Ms. George said she was both honoured and humbled by the fact that the BVI was nominated after only gaining membership 2 years ago.

She added that the Territory’s membership in the organisation encouraged other OCTs to join. As a result there are now 8 (Dutch and British) Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in CAIPA membership.

“It is my hope that we as OCTs are able to develop and achieve our strategic objective based on the mandate and annual work programmes put forward for the next two years during my directorship,” she said.

The Territories were also able to lobby for the permanent position as Director 4 on the Executive Board, which will serve as the representative for all of the other OCTs to ensure that unique matters of interests are addressed on the regional level.

Ms. George further added, “Since our membership, we have had the privilege to be a part of a number of study tours to various IPAs within the region, in order to learn the operations and to apply such knowledge to the executive implementation of the Territory’s Investment Promotion Agencies (IPA) as planned for the coming months.”

CAIPA is an umbrella association of Caribbean Investment Promotion Agencies, with a focus on strengthening the capacity of Caribbean IPAs to execute their mandates of attracting Foreign Direct Investment into their territories. CAIPA also seeks to improve the attractiveness of the Region as a destination for investment.

The association is served by a Board of Director selected from its membership every two years to the following posts: President/Chairperson, 1^st Vice President, 2^nd Vice President, Director 1, Director 2, Director 3, Director 4, Ex-officio Member, who is the Central America and the Caribbean representative on the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies Steering Committee, Ex-officio Member, who is the immediate past President of CAIPA.

Photo attached:

1. Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) members at the World Investment Forum, Geneva. (Photo Credit: Provided)