Les Khan, the CEO of the Citizenship-by-Investment (CIU) Unit has just returned from a trip to Beijing in China as part of his global marketing programme.
The aim of the visit was to raise awareness for and to promote investment opportunities in St Kitts and Nevis. He was able to meet key developers and their agents, including visiting the corporate headquarters of two of them, as well as having a number of meetings with senior executives and investors in the various projects. Mr Khan also took the opportunity to meet with an International Marketing Agent who is promoting both the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) and Real Estate investment options. This trip reaffirmed St Kitts and Nevis as having a mature real estate market and one that provides the best value for clients. The trip also follows on the robust growth of Real Estate applications.
In his presentations Mr Khan was able to let prospective investors know some key facts about the efficiency and quality of the Citizenship-By-Investment (CBI) programme such as its international rankings for quality:
- St Kitts and Nevis has #1 ranking of passports in the Eastern Caribbean
- St Kitts and Nevis has #2 ranking of passports in Caribbean
- St Kitts and Nevis has #5 ranking of passports in the Americas
- St Kitts and Nevis has #1 country for doing business in eastern Caribbean
- St Kitts and Nevis has the most efficient processing CIU
- St Kitts and Nevis has the strongest due diligence and vetting processes
- St Kitts and Nevis has the top 5 ranking in quality of nationality as indicated by Henley and Partners
The information was welcomed by agents, along with the advice he was able to provide on the submission of documentation and what they should be looking for in order to ensure files are expedited.
Mr Khan said of the trip:
“I was delighted with the level of interest shown by prospective applicants and agents in China. It is a clear demonstration that our reputation as a platinum CBI programme with robust and transparent investment application processes has stood us in good stead. Our standards and processes will ensure that we attract the right number and calibre of applicants to our programme who want to make a positive difference to the economy and quality of life of St Kitts and Nevis.”
He noted that as one of the largest economies in the world, it was important that we continue to grow our relationships with agents and developers. To this end, it is expected that both the St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency (SKIPA) and Mr. Khan will be attending several conferences in China, the next being scheduled for Shanghai in June.