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VI companies support 2.3M jobs & generate US$14B in tax revenues globally- Report

The 'Beyond Globalisation' report, based on quantitative and qualitative research of firms operating in the VI, shows that the territory is home to a globally respected international business and finance centre facilitating an estimated $1.4 trillion in cross-border trade and investment. Photo: VINO/File
 The [British] Virgin Islands’ (VI’s) positive role in the global economy has been underscored in a new independent report launched today, March 29, 2023: ‘Beyond globalisation: The British Virgin Islands contribution to global prosperity in an uncertain world’. Photo: bvi.gov.vg
The [British] Virgin Islands’ (VI’s) positive role in the global economy has been underscored in a new independent report launched today, March 29, 2023: ‘Beyond globalisation: The British Virgin Islands contribution to global prosperity in an uncertain world’. Photo: bvi.gov.vg
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The [British] Virgin Islands’ (VI’s) positive role in the global economy has been underscored in a new independent report launched today, March 29, 2023: ‘Beyond globalisation: The British Virgin Islands contribution to global prosperity in an uncertain world’.

The report, based on quantitative and qualitative research of firms operating in the VI, shows that the territory is home to a globally respected international business and finance centre facilitating an estimated $1.4 trillion in cross-border trade and investment.

According to a Government Information Services (GIS) press release on the report, there are currently just over 375,000 active VI Business Companies, roughly 57 per cent originating in Asia and 16 per cent from Europe and North America. Investment mediated by VI Business Companies supports around 2.3 million jobs globally and generates an extra US$14bn each year in taxes for governments worldwide.

In the UK, VI companies hold an estimated US$153bn in assets, with 134,000 jobs created by investment mediated through the BVI and US$3.5bn of tax revenues generated for the UK government.

Boosting the global economy 

Commenting on the report, Elise Donovan, CEO, BVI Finance, said, “This report provides clear evidence of the role the BVI plays in facilitating investment, stimulating economic growth, creating jobs and providing governments with much-needed tax revenues. With this research, we can continue to break down some of the myths and educate more people on true role the BVI plays as a respected and valued international financial and business centre and a key intermediary in the global economy.”

She said, “Whatever form the next evolution of globalisation takes, international financial centres like the BVI will remain vital cogs in boosting the global economy by enabling investment, facilitating sophisticated transactions, and enabling a more efficient global marketplace.”

'Need will remain for expert, neutral & innovative centres' like VI’s

The ‘Beyond Globalisation’ report identifies three scenarios for the future of globalisation and the opportunities for the VI. In the first scenario – ‘Weaker internationalism’- pre-pandemic globalisation trends continue, albeit more slowly and with plenty of political obstacles to navigate. In ‘the bloc economy,’ economic and regulatory integration between countries continues within geopolitical blocs, but these different groups diverge. Lastly, ‘new economic nationalism’ is a partial reversal of globalisation with increased protectionism, less porous borders and more erratic politics.

Mark Pragnell, Director, Pragmatix Advisory, added, “Looking into an uncertain future and beyond the globalisation of recent decades, there are many different scenarios for geopolitics and economics, but the need will remain for expert, neutral and innovative centres, like the British Virgin Islands’, to support cross-border trade, investment and mobility.”

The full Beyond Globalisation report can be viewed here

11 Responses to “VI companies support 2.3M jobs & generate US$14B in tax revenues globally- Report”

  • Political analyst (29/03/2023, 18:36) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    I’m a Novice in finance, especially international business companies. The numbers in the report peak my inquisitiveness, though. According to the report there are 375,000 registered companies in the BVI which generates $14B tax revenue globally. Several questions come to mind a)how much revenue does BVI government generate annually from these companies, b) what is the source of that revenue, c) how many of these companies are physically located in the BVI, d) are there opportunities for additional revenue haul, e) how much employment is created in the BVI, e)what are the companies cooperate social responsibility record, f) if financial services collapse where does the BVI go and what happened to the standard of living, quality of life, and per capita income, g)does the revenue generated have a multiplier effect on the economy, h), should the physical and social infrastructure be in better shape. In addition to the $14B revenue generated globally, 2.3 million jobs are also generated. Moreover, VI companies hold $163B in assets in the U K, along with 134K jobs, and $3.5B in tax revenue. This may or May not explain the heighten interest in a forgotten and neglected OT. The number of companies registered are impressive but should the BVI people benefit more from their presence. There is a disconnect between the money flowing through the BVI and the state of the BVI, does it not?
    • @PA (29/03/2023, 20:31) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      @PA, you may be a self-appointed financial novice but you are asking some critical and important ???
    • Lord have mercy.. (30/03/2023, 05:39) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      You all ain tired trying to fool and deceive the people for you all own selfish interest...Thats why I stop going church, these are the same people sitting in the front seat or on the stage with the Pasture..Big Donations, evil doers..
  • Under employee (29/03/2023, 19:15) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    How much of this money benefits BVIslanders, that would be interesting to know!!
  • 2023 (29/03/2023, 19:41) Like (5) Dislike (10) Reply
    no wonder NDP/PVIM wants to get back in government so they can pretend to purchase an airline for the people and 8 years down the road no plane and the people tax money went into someone pockets( run chat dat
  • @2023 (29/03/2023, 21:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We know the real truth , so you can continue spewing out your propaganda , a few idiots would enjoy your hypocrisy because they don't know any better , get a life blondie
  • @Political analyst (29/03/2023, 22:28) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    The word is ‘piqued’, not ‘peaked’.
  • Britain & Gov failed us. (30/03/2023, 05:31) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Where are all that money gone? . And thats not all, there lot more revenue coming in from other places.. Again, Where are all those monies gone?. The worse roads in the World, More office space rental, expenditure than any where else in the world.. I think SK has the best Roads in the Caribbean, Ive been there I was amazed, and felt shame when I think of BVI roads...We should have had two more state own admin buildings, what going on with our BVI....People wise up.. Our Politicians have this same information, they know the monies are coming in, thats why they are robbing us and deceiving us, enriching themselves and their friends with no conscience....Tell me With all these information plus what we learnt from the COI..the Gov and Britain failed us miserably...Suspension was the right move, set the reset button, clean house, take a pause, give our failed politicians time to reflect... I will say this same blog on every site because bias media may sanction this..
  • Curious (30/03/2023, 10:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hmmm. I wonder if the British media will report this part of the story.
  • Hmm (30/03/2023, 15:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    mmmh yep and they still want to turn around and tax us individually as per some idiotic "global" (US led) mandate.

    The VI is are providing a international service at the government level, yet people find it hard to believe we can have such a thing as a universal income, funding for private entrepreneurs, funding for bachelors, masters, & phd graduates upon return to the territory, and regularized territory wide grant$.

    As the previous commenter wrote "$163B in assets in the U K, along with 134K jobs, and $3.5B in tax revenue"

    Yet between 30,000 people, our government is looking for hand outs!! Insane & degrading considering government can mandate we the 30,000 of the VI get a tiny tiny tiny piece of that $163,000,000,000 billion with a B.

    Paired with tourism taxes why are we asking for hand outs?! Other countries want to tax our residents, requst tax information from us & expect the VI not to tax them too.

    I say it again we should be sitting back eating popcorn and voting together as a territory about who in the world we should send aid and funding to because we have it that good.

    We are disappointing our ancestors way of life before slavery & colonialization of Africa, by screwing it up, not pushing for a surpluses of self sufficiency, sucking up to the enemy for no gain and not leveraging our assets in order for the whole territory to continually live better than they who were enslaved and barely survived.

    Make no mistake anyone who tries to oppress you is not you friend. Why do they want to take away financial services when they know we depend on it?

    I guess its Ok for them to have favorable tax laws but not us. They've given themselves the advantage by exempting themselves without protecting the VI.

    Think hard if a friend would do that.


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