GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

BVI-India Trade Mission (August 2026)

“A Strategic Partnership for India’s Global Expansion”

ROADSHOW KEY NOTE ADDRESS

Remarks

by 

Dr. Natalio Wheatley

  Premier & Finance Minister 

of the British Virgin Islands

24 August, 2026

Good afternoon to all of our attendees and everyone present today taking part in BVI’s historic first India Financial Services Roadshow. 

As Premier & Minister of Finance, I welcome you on behalf of the government and people of our islands, as we have travelled all the way from the beautiful West Indies to host you today. 

We look forward to putting on display the great advantages and value BVI stands to provide to your businesses and India’s financial services ecosystem.

I will begin by stating that this is my first visit to India and that I have been truly humbled by the warm reception and hospitality of both India’s Government and you in the private sector. 

South Asian culture and history in many ways forms a critical part of the West Indies identity and we feel right at home here in the company of our Indian colleagues. We share many commonalities in cuisine, music, language, and most importantly but not least of all our love of cricket, the world’s greatest game! 

(I understand that west indies cricketers are quite famous celebrities in India these days, but my sporting days are long since past as I am not that young anymore…it’s a young mans game.) 

Nevertheless, I look forward to enjoying more of India’s vibrant culture, history, monuments, and food as we journey across the country over the next few days. 

Today is indeed a historical milestone for both BVI and India, as this is our first trade show directly engaging India’s Financial Services professionals in real time. 

This occasion has been three years in the making, as the BVI-India relationship has grown significantly in the last years. It was the right time to reintroduce BVI as a trusted partner to our Indian colleagues. 

While this roadshow is a historical first, BVI is no stranger to India’s financial sector. As many of you are familiar, BVI’s financial products have been used by Indian businesses since the early 2000s, and remain a staple of the industry. We were one of the first entrants to the market following India’s early reforms and for two decades have supported India’s international investments and cross border trade. 

BVI helped facilitate India’s early investment expansion into Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the developing world. Those same investments allowed India to access capital, technology, and technical expertise reinvested into the subcontinent. Within a decade, BVI alone accounted for some 17% of India’s outward investment flows. So, in truth, we are no strangers to the market, but today reengaging with you as a reminder of the value BVI brings to India’s investment ecosystem.

The growing importance and recent economic progress of India is well known internationally, now being the world’s 4th largest economy and fastest growing G20 country. But of particular interest to BVI is the rapid “Internationalisation” of that growth, with increasing economic participants from all over the world. A surge of Foreign Direct Investment is pouring into India from all regions covering industrial sectors critical to the country’s modernisation. To remain competitive, we have also shifted our focus to reflect India’s drive for inward investment. 

It is within this frame, that BVI’s value proposition and advantages shine best and brightest among our peers. The sum combination our flexible corporate framework, common-law legal system, sound regulation, and integration into global markets is unmatched among the world’s financial centres. BVI’s network of practitioners and service firms spans the globe, and there is virtually no corner of finance where we are not present. 

As a leading jurisdiction we have evolved, and BVI’s ambitions today centre on “Investment Funds” as our lead product globally. India’s growing cadre of managers require efficient, accessible, cost-effective funds options governed within a sound regulatory environment. BVI funds provide for this need as the jurisdiction is already home to one quarter of the world’s hedge funds, a global leader in fund formation and domicile. Our niche offerings are specially catered to serve India’s startups, family businesses, the industrial sector, and a multiplicity of investors locally and abroad. This ecosystem continues to be supported by our world leading Business Companies, Trusts, and traditional investment vehicles commonly used worldwide.

BVI has been a long-term partner in India’s growth story and we will continue to deepen our engagement over the coming months and years. We will seek to build lasting partnerships with GIFT City, NSE, and other Indian institutions to create greater pathways for investment and cross-border trade between India and the world. Stakeholder engagement remains our top priority and we envisage dedicated representation in the near future to service our partners in real-time. 

Our goal is to become a household name in India’s financial sectoR. BVI is here for the long-term. We are here to build greater value for you, we are here to build greater value for India’s businesses and families…and it is our hope to be a continued part of your success even beyond the achievements of 2047.

It has been my great pleasure to address you today and I look forward to the fantastic conversations that will take place over the course of today’s programme.

I thank you

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