BVI Hong Kong Office

17/09/2026

At the beginning of a landmark visit to India, the British Virgin Islands’ Premier and Minister of Financial Services spoke with India Business Law Journal’s Manokamana about the jurisdiction’s ambitions to become a financial services powerhouse for India

17/09/2026

The Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) organised a reception for the high-level delegation from the British Virgin Islands (BVI), led by Premier and Minister of Finance...

17/09/2026

SILF hosts BVI delegation with AI, ESG and energy in focus https://law.asia/india-bvi-financial-services-co-operation/

The Society of Indian Law Firms organised a reception for the high-level delegation from the British Virgin Islands, led by Premier and Minister of Finance Natalio Wheatley and Minister of Financial Services Lorna Smith, that was recently in India on a four-city tour.

At the reception, Smith highlighted the global nature of the BVI’s financial services ecosystem and the key role of lawyers.

SILF President Lalit Bhasin welcomed the delegation, adding that the visit was a timely step towards the goal of building a legal architecture for a connected global economy. “The high-profile delegation … highlights the need for mutual economic co-operation between India and the BVI,” he said.

Mukesh Butani, managing partner of BMR Legal in New Delhi, said, “The BVI [is] a trusted and commercially efficient platform for cross-border investment, fund structuring and wealth preservation.

📲 IBLJ is now on WhatsApp! Follow now: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7Nmmm3gvWb4yJN2K0Q

17/09/2026

BVI woos India https://law.asia/bvi-premier-leads-delegation-india-financial-services/

There are two pillars to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) economy: beaches and business. Clear turquoise waters and white sands provide one pillar for this British overseas territory with more than 60 islands in the sunny Caribbean. The second is as a crucial centre of international finance.

At the start of a landmark visit to India, British Virgin Islands Premier Natalio Wheatley and Minister of Financial Services Lorna Smith spoke with India Business Law Journal about the jurisdiction’s ambitions to become a financial services powerhouse for India.

📲 IBLJ is now on WhatsApp! Follow now: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7Nmmm3gvWb4yJN2K0Q

17/09/2026

Members of the BVI Hong Kong Representative Office and FSC Asia Representative attended the inaugural Caribbean Ball in Beijing, China on May 30, 2026, at the China World Summit Wing, bringing together some 600 guests for a night of diplomacy, culture, and celebration.

Organized by the Caribbean Caucus of Embassies in Beijing, chaired by Jamaican Ambassador Arthur Williams. The event featured guests including diplomats, government officials like Jamaica's Minister of Agriculture Colin Floyd Green, Chinese Foreign Ministry officials, and members of the Caribbean diaspora and local community.

11/09/2026

VI Targets India as Second Pillar of Financial Services by 2036

BVI TARGETS INDIA AS SECOND PILLAR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES BY 2036

The Virgin Islands is targeting India to become the second major pillar of its financial services industry on a scale comparable to China by 2036, as Government continues to pursue greater diversification in Asia.

That ambition was outlined following the Territory’s inaugural BVI Financial Services Trade Mission and Road Show in India, which the Government said was the result of three years of stakeholder engagement and strategic planning.

The mission, held under the theme “BVI: A Strategic Partner in India’s Global Expansion,” took the delegation across four major investment centres over nine days, including Delhi, Mumbai, GIFT City and Bengaluru.

While the Territory’s initial engagements in India were previously highlighted as an effort to build relationships and position the BVI as a partner for Indian businesses expanding internationally, the latest details provide a clearer indication of the scale of Government’s long-term ambitions for the market.

Government is seeking to establish India as a major component of the BVI’s financial services diversification strategy, with the aim of building a presence in the country comparable to the Territory’s established relationship with China.

The mission involved a 12-member Government delegation led by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley, along with Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development Lorna Smith, OBE, Financial Services Commission Managing Director and CEO Kenneth Baker and other Government and BVI Hong Kong Office officials.

Eighteen private-sector BVI practitioners from Hong Kong, Mauritius, Dubai, Panama, Europe and the Virgin Islands also participated in the mission.

Three roadshows were held in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, focusing on areas including BVI investment funds, business companies, trusts, family offices and fintech. The programme also included presentations from the BVI Financial Services Commission and the Ministry of Financial Services.

Among the mission’s highest-level engagements was a courtesy visit by Premier Wheatley with India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Government described the meeting as the highest-ranking bilateral engagement involving the BVI and a leading G20 Government official outside of the United Kingdom in the Territory’s modern history.

The delegation also held engagements with the International Financial Services Centres Authority at GIFT City, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and the EU-India Chamber of Commerce.

Premier Wheatley also rang the opening bell at India’s National Stock Exchange, marking the start of the trading day, before joining officials on a tour of the trading floor.

The India mission follows earlier BVI financial services trade missions organised by the Territory’s Hong Kong Representative Office in China and Singapore in 2024 and Malaysia in 2025.

Premier Wheatley said the Hong Kong Office has continued to lead Government's efforts to diversify the BVI’s financial services markets across Asia.

The latest mission now places India firmly within that strategy, with Government looking to build on the relationships and engagements established during the inaugural visit as it works towards expanding the territory's financial services footprint in one of the world’s largest economies.

11/09/2026

10/09/2026

BVI HONG KONG OFFICE DELIVERS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL INDIA TRADE MISSION

The British Virgin Islands Hong Kong Representative Office has again delivered another highly successful BVI Financial Services Trade Mission & Road Show, held in India from August 24th-31st, (2026) under the theme 'BVI: A Strategic Partner in India’s Global Expansion'. The product of three (3) years of stakeholder engagement and strategic planning, the India Trade Mission is a revolutionary step in positioning BVI‘s Financial Services for dramatic expansion into India as the world’s 4th largest economy. The India event follows successful Trade Missions organized in China (2024), Singapore (2024), and Malaysia (2025) by BVI’s staff of four (4) residing in Hong Kong. India forms a critical part of the Territory’s financial services diversification strategy, with ambitions to make India the second pillar of BVI’s financial services markets on the scale of China by 2036. Indian stakeholders were brought together in the country’s four (4) most important investment cities showcasing the unique advantages BVI provides to India’s investment ecosystem and economic growth.

BVI’s Government delegation was led by Virgin Islands Premier & Minister of Finance, the Honourable Dr. Natalio Wheatley, who noted that, “the BVI Hong Kong Office continues to successfully lead the Government’s market diversification efforts in Asia, delivering a historic first trade Mission to India on a massive scale. We continue to trust our Hong Kong team to deliver on the Government’s mandate to expand our financial services footprint in Asia”.

The mission covered four cities over nine days, comprised of a twelve member BVI Government delegation including the Premier & Minister of Finance, (the Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley) Minister for Financial Services (Honourable. Lorna G Smith, OBE), BVI Financial Services Commission Managing Director & CEO (Mr. Kenneth Baker), Director of Financial Services (Ms. Ayana Glasgow), BVI Hong Kong Office Associate Director (Ms. Siobhan Flax), BVI Hong Kong Office Director (Dr. Ricardo Wheatley); and BVI Hong Kong Office Political Economy Officers (Mr. Ronn A. Grant and Ms. Kyla K. Forbes); and supporting officials & staff from the Ministry of Financial Services, BVI Finance, BVI’s Hong Kong Office, Premier’s Office, and International Affairs Secretariat.

Additionally, eighteen private sector BVI practitioners from Hong Kong, Mauritius, Dubai, Panama, Europe and the BVI itself also participated in the mission participating in panel discussions and presentations in each of the Mission’s three (3) Roadshows in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. A variety of investment topics were highlighted including BVI Funds, Business Companies, Trusts, Family Offices, and Fintech, complimented by high-level presentations by the BVI Financial Services Commission and Ministry of Financial Services.

The highlight of the Mission among its series of important engagements was the Premier’s courtesy visit with India’s Minister of Finance, the Honourable Nirmila Sarathaman, the number two ranked official in the Indian Government. The moment was historic as it was BVI’s highest ranking bilateral meeting with a leading G20 Government official outside of the United Kingdom in the Islands’ modern history. Other notable meetings included the delegation’s visit to Gift City- The International Financial Services Authority (IFSCA), the Security and Exchange Board of India, Bombay Chamber of Commerce, and EU-India Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, the Premier had the opportunity to ring the opening “bell” at India’s National Stock Exchange symbolizing the beginning of the trading day, enroute to a delegation tour of the trading floor with NSE officials.

In concluding the Mission, Associate Director and Mission Lead, Ms. Siobhan Flax, said “Following our three years of intense preparation, we have been able to successfully deliver for the Government and People of the Virgin Islands, building new trade relationships that will benefit the Territory for generations to come. Our staff of Virgin Islanders is small but hard working and we will continue to support the expansion of BVI’s Financial Services Footprint in Asia”.