British Virgin Islands Business News

The analysis of the latest events in BVI and worldwide, affecting BVI business environment; facts and statistics on BVI International Business Companies involved in global business activities.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Annual OTCC Meeting to be Held in London

During the Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) meeting, which is held annually in London since 1999, and this year will be held on 23-24 November, the UK government will discuss new strategy for its Overseas Territories.

The meeting will be hosted by Henry Bellingham, Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories. It will be visited by premiers, chief ministers and elected representatives from UK Overseas Territories. There will also be ministers from the Departments for International Development; Transport; Environment; Energy and Climate Change; the Treasury; Home Office; Ministry of Defence; Culture, Media and Sport; and Business, Innovation and Skills.

Speaking on the event, Bellingham said: “I look forward to discussing with Territory leaders their ideas for the development of our partnership which will help us develop our thinking for the White Paper on the Overseas Territories that we intend to publish next year."

During the OTCC meeting, the leaders and elected representatives will attend a reception hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and will have bilateral meetings with Bellingham. From the British Virgin Islands, the OTCC meeting will be attended by the newly elected Premier Dr Orlando Smith.

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Friday, November 11, 2011

BVI General Elections Won by Opposition

This week, it was announced by election officials that the main opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) had won the November 7 general elections in the British Virgin Islands territory. NDP received 9 of 13 parliamentary seats, while the party of outgoing Premier Ralph O'Neal won 4 seats, down from 11 in the previous Parliament.

The NDP, led by Dr. Orlando Smith who held the premier office in 2003-2007, promised to safeguard the sectors of financial services and tourism, which are especially important for country's economy.

Voter turnout was reported to about 75 percent of the 12,600 voters.

Former Premier and the leader of Virgin Islands Party (VIP), in a public speech has congratulated the newly elected Premier, Hon. Dr. Orlando Smith. He said that this is not the first time that he has been in the opposition, and that he looks forward to working with the new National Democratic Party Government in the new House of Assembly.

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Thursday, November 03, 2011

International Law Firm Opens Offices in BVI and Singapore

International financial services provider Bedell Trust has announced plans to open new offices in the British Virgin Islands and Singapore. After this, in addition to continuing to service its European-based clients out of Jersey, company's British Virgin Islands legal team, based at Bedell Cristin Jersey, will establish physical presence both in the BVI and Singapore. The BVI law team will also closely co-operate with the Channel Islands offices in providing multi-jurisdictional financial services solutions to customers from Asia.

Bedell Trust will also form an affiliation with an established BVI corporate management services company to support the provision of BVI corporate services to its clients. The company announced that the developments "are central to the Bedell strategy to provide multi-jurisdictional legal and fiduciary services in the key locations where our international client base demands them”.

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