The Financial Services Implementation Unit (FSIU) is moving its BVI Forward education and awareness campaign into high gear.

Increasing awareness and engaging the population are the cornerstones of the BVI Forward initiatives as was recommended in the report following the consultancy facilitated by McKinsey and Company.

Through this initiative and the activities planned, the FSIU is seeking to develop a greater understanding of financial services, its importance to the BVI economy and its impact on the daily lives of residents. All forms of media will be utilised as part of its education and awareness campaign to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information.

The campaign begins today, April 5 with a guest appearance on Spotlight, aired at 8:00 p.m. on JTV, Channel 55.  Young people in the Territory will have an opportunity to engage on BVI Forward on Saturday, April 9, when spokespersons make a guest appearance on the programme Teen Talk, which airs on ZBVI 780 AM from 11:00 a.m.

BVI Forward will also be the subject of the Speak Out BVI programme on Tuesday, April 12 on ZBVI 780 AM, from 8:00 – 9:00 p.m., and on Thursday, April 14, the FSIU will premiere its own television programme, BVI Forward which will air monthly on JTV Channel 55 at 7:30 p.m.

The BVI Forward education and awareness campaign will also include bi-weekly newspaper columns, public service announcements on radio and television, and regular social media updates on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Additionally, all information disseminated during the campaign will be available on the BVI Forward website.

Initiative Sponsor, Mrs. Lorna Smith underscored the importance of engaging the population as part of the BVI Forward campaign.  Mrs. Smith said, “Moving the financial services industry forward requires the involvement of all stakeholders which includes persons working in the industry as well as the general population. As an economic pillar of the BVI, financial services must become a more prominent topic of discussion among the population. To do so, persons need to be more aware of the industry and its benefits and this is precisely what this communications campaign seeks to do.”

FSIU Director, Mr. Kedrick Malone said, “The BVI Forward campaign will utilise a range of spokespersons who will be sharing information on various aspects of the financial services industry and its relevance to the BVI population. We want persons to develop a real understanding of this economic pillar and how its benefits filter through the entire society, directly and indirectly.”

The FSIU will remind persons of what BVI Forward is and its goals and objectives at the beginning of the campaign. The FSIU will also introduce the various types of spokespersons who have been identified to share information with the community. Another objective of the initial campaign will be to provide a general update on BVI Forward since its launch in September 2015, as well as some of the activities planned for the communications campaign. Beginning in the latter half of April, persons can expect to consistently receive information on various topics that are relevant to the industry to ensure its future development.

The campaign is not solely geared to informing and educating the public but also providing opportunities to engage and have exchanges on financial services issues, their involvement in the industry and its impact on their lives, among other areas.

BVI Forward is a campaign comprising of ten initiatives which have been identified to help strengthen the financial services industry in the Territory and ensure its sustainable future.