CBI Applicants Must Add Value

(ZIZ News) — Individuals who attain St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship, through the Citizenship By Investment Programme, must add value to the country.

Those were the words of Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Timothy Harris, during his monthly Press Conference on Tuesday, morning.

“We want for our Citizenship Programme a discerning investor, informed enough to appreciate that we are, in a real sense, a gem in the region and they should have an enduring interest in preserving this gem. In sum, the citizens who come our way by way of our Citizenship By Investment Programme they must add value to St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said.

Dr. Harris reflected on his recent visit to Asia when he sought to rebuild the CBI programme.

“We met with service providers, developers, agents past and present,” he said.

“My delegation left Asia confident that our CBI programme is better and stronger for the reforms which we have made and we can now face the future with confidence. The progress attained thus far is the result of a collaborative effort,” he added.

Though much emphasis has been placed on CBI, Dr. Harris noted that other contributors aimed at boosting the economy are being considered.

“We aim to diversify and reposition the economy so that its economic fortunes are not overly reliant on the citizenship programme. We will welcome Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in other areas to diversify our tourism plant, to establish a viable medical tourism infrastructure, to introduce Information and Communication Technology (ICT) entities in St. Kitts and Nevis and in giving our country a fresh start in food production,” he said.

Prime Minister Harris stated that the government will revisit tax incentives in order to give support to pioneering economic activity in new industries such as geothermal.