Invest SVG participates in historic Caribbean Returning Nationals event

This past week, Invest SVG participated in an historic event hosted by the Caribbean Returning Nationals Foundation (CRNF). This auspicious event (Business Networking Forum), entitled “Banking on Returning Nationals:{{more}} A Solid Investment” was the first of its kind in the Caribbean region for returning nationals and was held in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. This latest movement in the attempt to propel the human resources product of the Caribbean was witnessed by almost 200 patrons and was addressed by public officials from Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), the United States of America, and the American Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Executive Director of Invest SVG Bernadette Ambrose-Black, in an address to the forum, spoke of the investment opportunities in the varying sectors and sub-sectors, as well as incentives and benefits that are available for returning citizens of SVG that live in the global diaspora.

She highlighted the fact that not only is SVG a model country for Foreign Direct Investment, but that at this point in our development, we continue to open our shores to all reputable investors, returning nationals included, as we seek to transform the economic landscape of the most naturally beautiful group of islands in the Caribbean. Ambrose-Black communicated that the diaspora needs to not only recognise this, but also reconnect with the home-base on a regular basis, and meet with various government officials to acquaint themselves with the current policy on various matters. She pledged Invest SVG’s support to the initiative by stating it is the civic duty of every Caribbean citizen to give back to his/her homeland and to aid in the development of the region, even if not physically present.

This event comes on the heels of the agency’s presentation in 2012 to the Vincentian diaspora in New York City, where it presented opportunities to Vincentians in hopes of peaking their interest in investing in their country of origin.

CRNF, with its headquarters in Washington DC, is a non-profit organization established to engage Caribbean expatriates and their families in the global diaspora with the community back in their home country.

President and founder of the CRNF Arlene Graham, in her address, explained that the foundation was established to provide a regional network for returning nationals, in an attempt to offer them a sense of community, and a platform from which they can offer their skills, knowledge and expertise, in favour of developing the region.

Graham said the CRNF has established links with several chambers of commerce in the USA and the Caribbean, and with import/export promotion agencies in the Caribbean, and US city officials.

Invest SVG is one of the regional agencies that have established relations with the CRNF. The foundation is also represented in Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Monsterrat, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.