Anguilla’s leading financial services providers met with the Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, other Ministers of Government and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance at the Chief Minister’s Office to discuss plans for moving the Anguilla financial services industry forward and for establishing “Anguilla Finance”, the Agency to be charged with promoting Anguilla as an international financial services centre globally.

The delegation, comprising members of the Executive of the Anguilla Financial Services Association (AFSA) and the Officers of the Anguilla Branch of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) led by AFSA President Alex Richardson assured the Chief Minister of the private sector’s willingness to work in partnership with the new administration to take advantage of opportunities to bring international business to Anguilla.

The Chief Minister discussed the state of the financial services industry worldwide and said his administration was fully committed to working in partnership with the industry to further develop this second important sector in the Anguilla economy. The AFSA/STEP delegation recognised that it was under Mr. Hughes leadership in an earlier administration that Anguilla’s industry had experienced strong progress and expressed the hope that a similar proactive approach will make up for opportunities missed under the last administration.

Anguilla’s leading financial services providers are convinced that new marketing initiatives aimed at highlighting the jurisdiction’s attractiveness to investors should be progressed through “Anguilla Finance” and that transparency and openness must be the hallmark of promotions efforts going forward.
The Chief Minister pledged that his administration will be receptive to private sector recommendations and promised that the Government will look to AFSA and STEP to direct the industry on marketing, promotions and on legislation generally.
Commenting on the meeting, Pam Webster, Chair of AFSA’s Marketing and Promotions Committee said: “Our financial services sector is vital to diversifying the Anguilla economy. This island is potentially a very important financial centre and the Honorable Chief Minister played a very constructive role in 1994 in laying the legislative foundation for us to succeed. This is another opportune time for Anguilla to consolidate our early successes and it is fortunate indeed that Mr. Hughes is again at the helm when we need to be asserting our independent views to the British and the international bodies currently challenging this industry. We are also very pleased that the Chief Minister has committed to focus on the need to promote the industry. This administration appears committed to ensuring that we remain well regulated and a high quality centre and I am personally very optimistic that working closely together we will be able to stimulate the Anguilla economy through investment in this sector”.
- Press Release

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