Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said he is pleased to announce that the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has been officially removed from the French blacklist of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions. Photo: GIS

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has been officially removed from the French blacklist of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions. This is a significant achievement that reflects our ongoing commitment to international tax transparency and cooperation.

We understand the importance of upholding the highest standards in relation to tax transparency. Over the past few years, the BVI government has worked diligently to address the concerns raised by France and other international partners. This included implementing a number of legislative and regulatory reforms, such as enhancing our tax information exchange framework.

Our removal from the French blacklist demonstrates the success of these efforts. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all those involved, including government officials, industry stakeholders, and the international tax community.

Madam Speaker, this positive development is a welcome boost to our reputation as a leading international financial centre. It strengthens our ability to attract responsible businesses and investors who value transparency and cooperation. We remain committed to maintaining the highest international standards. We look forward to continuing our constructive dialogue with France and other partners on tax matters.

Moving Forward

The BVI Government is committed to:

• Maintaining robust tax information exchange frameworks;
• Collaborating with international partners to address evolving tax challenges;
• Promoting a business-friendly environment that upholds the highest standards of transparency and cooperation.

We are confident that the BVI will continue to be a jurisdiction of choice for businesses and investors seeking a stable and well-regulated environment.