First item on the

agenda: economic
growth
Themes and best-in-class approaches to
generating economic growth across island
jurisdictions.

June 2022
2 | Economic growth across island jurisdictions

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has left

its indelible mark. Combined with recent geo-
political turmoil, it’s expected that large scale
reverberations will continue to transform the
future.
Island governments bore the full impact of
the COVID-19 storm and now face the
task of regenerating economies that were
some of the hardest hit by the pandemic,
while facing inflationary pressures caused
by continuing supply chain disruptions.

Roadmap for the new reality

Economies are transforming to align with
the new reality. Island governments will be
at the forefront of navigating the
reinvigoration of their economies. It comes
as no surprise that many governments are
starting by developing new or refreshed
national economic strategies. Change was
essential during the pandemic. Now, we’re
seeing governments and communities
open up to new ways of doing business,
by seizing opportunities created by remote
working and growing pressures on
sustainability.

The Big Picture: Development of

an Economic Strategy for the Isle
of Man involves undertaking a
comprehensive assessment of
the economy as part of its
Economic Recovery Program.
“‘Our Big Picture’, will be
constructed across five key
phases; the Economic Vision,
Macro Economic Research and
Review, Development of Policy
Levers, formulate a Strategic
Framework and Establish a
Monitoring Program.” Isle of Man
Government

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3 | Economic growth across island jurisdictions

Remote working
The impact on island jurisdictions whose
economies significantly depend on
tourism has been particularly devastating.
Barbados’ launch of its Welcome Stamp
Program to attract digital nomads
demonstrated a level of nimbleness to re-
invent island stays to the new workcation
market.
There are now a proliferation of similar
programs: Global Citizen Concierge
Program (GCCP) – Cayman Islands,
Digital Nomad – Bermuda and Remote
Work Stamp program – Monserrat are a
few examples. Jurisdictions are already
growing their remote worker programs to
position them to capture what has become The popularity of remote working
a competitive market. has become a competitive
advantage in a hardening labor
In Venice, the nonprofit project market. LinkedIn reported that in
Venywhere aims to attract young, skilled February 2022, 50% of
professionals with remote careers to applications were directed at the
move to the island, paying a one-time 20% of job openings that offered
concierge service fee to help them adjust remote working.
to life in the historic city. Newcomers are
connected to apartments, assisted in
accessing the healthcare system, and
given language lessons. While the remote worker trend unlocks
new opportunities to increase visitor and KPMG in Canada has
WeWork and similar companies have residential populations with guests who
expanded their co-working office are essentially bringing their jobs with launched its "KPMG
products. KPMG anticipates that co-
working companies will partner with
them, anecdotal evidence suggests the Roam" program to allow
trend is already presenting challenges to
jurisdictions and/or hotels to deliver international financial centers (IFCs) employees to combine
seamless work-vacation and corporate-
sponsored experiences.
confronted with the need for international their personal and
companies to have economic substance
in the jurisdiction. To avoid being trapped professional ambitions.
The ‘Great Resignation’ has inspired
multi-nationals to find innovative ways to
on an island or unable to be close to
loved ones during the pandemic some
Employees can work
retain and recruit employees thus IFC employees returned ‘home’. Not all from any Canadian
contributing to corporate sponsorship of of the employees who relocated ‘home’
the digital nomad market. Island during the pandemic have returned,
province, as well as The
jurisdictions which are able to partner with opting to continue to work remotely. The Bahamas, Brazil, Croatia,
corporations and create a seamless economic benefits of having IFC
process stand to generate the greatest employees resident on island helped to Mexico, Cayman Islands,
benefits. offset multiple challenges such as: aging Bermuda, and France (if
populations and economic substance
pressures. What remains to be seen is they are EU citizens).
Remote workers have a how tax authorities will respond and KPMG in Canada
unique ability to whether this trend will trigger IFC
employees who are US
corporations to follow their employees.
stimulate economic citizens are also eligible
growth because they to work in Florida.
bring their job with them.

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4 | Economic growth across island jurisdictions

Sustainability Retaining economic activity and improving

Barbados PM Mia Mottley the balance of accounts was the initial
It’s good news for islands that climate
among Time’s 100 change and sustainability have become
trigger. In 2020, Barbados released their
National Energy Policy (BNEP) to 2030,
influential people priorities for many multilaterals and
with the ultimate goal of reaching 100%
corporations. Islands are at the literal
renewable, fossil-fuel free and carbon
Time editor-in-chief and edge of rising sea levels. Financing for
neutral energy production by the end of
renewable energy and conservation can
CEO Edward Felsenthal help to reduce the divide between ‘haves’
the decade. In 2018, two-thirds of
Barbados’ energy was imported from
said, “In a speech heard and ‘have-nots’.
abroad, exposing the island to external
round the world, Mia Mottley, Sustainability has soared to the top of market volatility.
corporate, consumer, and investor
Prime Minister of Barbados agendas, so those islands that have a
The BNEP aims to re-shore significant
portions of this investment through
and a voice for countries on strong vision of how they will reinvent
adopting green technologies which will
more sustainable eco-systems are better
the front lines of climate positioned to attractive foreign direct and
also improve population health and
change, made clear the capitalize on the island’s prime latitudinal
impact investment as financing,
exposure to solar energy. Prioritization of
businesses, and tourists factor such
intersection between local economic growth and job creation is
considerations into their decision-making
environmental action and at the forefront of this agenda.
Renewable energy
equity.” The dual impact of lower cost renewable
Island jurisdictions are wisely looking to technology and higher oil and gas prices
Watch PM Mia make gains in diversifying and is creating the impetus to move projects
reinvigorating their economies through forward aggressively.
Mottley’s Speech renewable technologies.

The Bahamas is preparing legislation to regulate

carbon credits
“(It) creates for the first time a framework to
compensate The Bahamas for the significant role we
play as a carbon sink. With conservation and
restoration, our seagrasses and mangroves can
continue to play a critical role in removing carbon
from the atmosphere.”

- The Hon. Philip Edward Davis, Q.C., Prime

Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

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5 | Infrastructure, Government & Healthcare Credentials

Diversification In January 2022, a new partnership Caricom Secretary

between Eeden Farms (Bahamas) and 80
Food production Acres (Ohio, US) was announced to grow General, Dr. Carla Barnett,
Supply chain disruptions forced
produce indoors enabled with robotics has stated that Caribbean
and artificial intelligence.
businesses and governments that import countries are aiming to
goods to diversify their supply chains to Eeden Farms plans to establish an
mitigate bottlenecks and over-reliance on 80,000 square-foot, world-class, robotics- achieve a 25% reduction
single sources. The war in Ukraine is enabled and hurricane resilient
hydroponic farm by the end of 2023. The
in food imports by 2025,
exacerbating these supply chain issues
particularly in relation to food and fuel. farm is projected to produce over 300 led by the development of
times more food than a traditional outdoor
The COVID-19 pandemic spot-lighted the farm with 100% renewable energy and
new investment models
vulnerability of island jurisdictions in 97% less water. In addition, the and financial instruments
particular, who have historically relied proprietary technology is not dependent
heavily on offshore suppliers and food on weather or water supply. to fund initiatives like
imports. To improve food security islands
are adopting new modes of agriculture Bermuda has also announced its hydroponics, aquaponics,
production. intention to progress plans for vertical intensive farming and
farming on a large scale and Isle of Man
The benefits of expanding local food has announced they are exploring vertical smart greenhouses.
production span: farming.

Creating new jobs

Diversifying the
economy

Reducing the cost

of fresh produce

Improving the quality

of produce

Enhancing the tourism

experience

Improving the balance

of payments

Increasing GDP

Mitigating the
importation of food
inflation

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6 | Infrastructure, Government & Healthcare Credentials

Technology Guernsey and Jersey with their strong The Government of

ties to UK businesses have been
The Isle of Man has long focused on prominent in attracting a portion of the Barbados, being cognizant
Fintech as an avenue for attracting foreign rapidly growing fintech market. The
investment, a position which has been Cayman Islands established a virtual
of [the digital currency
strengthened following the COVID-19 asset service provider regulatory trend], is moving the
pandemic. The Isle of Man Financial framework. BVI is expected to introduce
Services Authority (IOMFSA) has similar legislation. Bermuda has created country’s public service
tendered a request to the public regarding
broadening the regulatory perimeter for
the policy framework for digital banking towards a paperless,
as well as digital assets. In June, the
crypto-assets, and has launched an Bermuda Monetary Authority licensed digital platform, via its
innovation hub to support Fintech
companies using innovative
the first digital bank, Jewel Bank.” The national digitization
Premier the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP of
technologies who are seeking Bermuda announced that Jewel Bank program.
registration on the island. The IOMFSA had been attracted by the digital asset
is also hosting an Innovation regulatory framework. And, the
Challenge to invite businesses to Government expects to see more
develop technology-based solutions to interest from banks in the digital asset
issues facing the financial services sector.
industry. Having long been involved in the
e-gaming industry, the Isle of Man is
leveraging their workforce’s technological
skillset to attract developing industries.

Jamaica launched, as part of its

education reform plans, a Coding in
Schools program to prepare students for
future tech jobs. Amber Innovations
Group Limited and Digicel Group are
partnering with the educational
institutions.

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7 | Infrastructure, Government & Healthcare Credentials

Competitiveness analysis supports

governments in determining how they
compare as a location for business and
the factors which can be enhanced or
adjusted to generate economic growth.
The analysis involves:

Identifying the business

In 2020, the Central Bank of The sector or subsector (e.g.,
Bahamas launched the first national digital technology, food
bank digital currency, the Sand Dollar. production, back office
In the process, The Bahamas became operations, etc).
a leader in e-money ahead
of major jurisdictions.
The objective of the Jurisdictional analysis of
Sand Dollar is to macro indicators,
create an eco-system economic landscape,
which expands adjacencies, etc. are
financial inclusion determined and
as well as creating benchmarked with
a more secure system targeted competitors.
for efficient transactions.

Competitive factors are

assessed such as labor,
taxes, incentives,
Digital Assets The explosion of tech and crypto interest
amongst island nations included the transportation, utilities to
The Eastern Caribbean has created its recent FTX and SALT Crypto Bahamas determine relative
own form of digital currency meant to help event in The Bahamas. The star-studded strengths and
speed transactions and serve people conference attracted luminaries from the weaknesses.
without bank accounts. new blockchain, tech, and digital asset
businesses and investors.
The Eastern Caribbean Islands are investing heavily in tech and
Intangible considerations,
including ease of doing
Central Bank said its digital and it’s inevitable that jurisdictions
business, regulation, are
will increasingly be in competition with
"DCash" is the first such other small and large nations. ranked.
blockchain-based currency Cryptocurrency exchange FTX moved
introduced by any of the from Hong Kong to Nassau in 2021 as it The outcome identifies where a
deemed the regulatory environment to be jurisdiction is well placed to expand or
world’s currency unions, more conducive to its business*. diversify into a business sector and the
though some individual Lessons learned by international financial levers that can be used to produce
greater economic impact.
nations have similar centers (IFCs) suggests that future
success depends on robust development
existing systems. DCash is of regulatory frameworks and a
available in St. Lucia, willingness to understand and improve
competitiveness.
Grenada, Antigua and
Barbuda, and St. Kitts and
Nevis.

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8 | Economic growth across island jurisdictions

Tourism In 2021, the real estate market for second

homes in the Caribbean experienced a
By October 2020, the COVID-19 strong year for transactions and the
pandemic had cost the global tourism consequent taxes generated helped to fill
industry close to $935 billion in revenue. a gap in governments’ coffers. Islands
The pandemic has dealt a significant blow such as St. Kitts and St. Lucia have also
to island economies. There are many experienced growth in their citizenship
predictions on the glidepath to recovery though investment programs which
for leisure and business tourism. In 2022, typically involve investments in real
it’s expected that those jurisdictions that estate.
can quickly reopen and have strong
partnerships with the hospitality industry Arguably, the most significant growth was
will rebound the fastest. seen by brokers for private islands and
yachts from very high net worth persons
Jamaica is investing in tourism marketing who already had considerable flexibility in
to bring back tourists. where they work and live. For this market
sector, adding seclusion to exclusivity has
the added benefit of being a safeguard
In March 2022, Jamaica against contagion.

set a new record for Business Tourism

visitor arrivals since The outlook for business tourism is more
reopening its uncertain. There is broad consensus that
business travel will reman below pre-
international borders pandemic levels as remote meetings and
post-COVID, with 27,000 zero-carbon corporate targets place
downward pressure of corporate travel.
tourists arriving on the
island

The Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund

Bartlett, noted that “the tourism industry is
now poised for full recovery”. The
Jamaica Tourist Board is also raising the
country’s profile on the world stage
through their continued support of
Jamaican figures in entertainment and
sports. The Board sponsored Jamaica-
born artist Shaggy’s 2020 ‘Christmas in
the Islands’ album and TV special, and
sponsored the famed Jamaican bobsleigh
team during their time at the 2022 Beijing
Winter Olympics.

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9 | Economic growth across island jurisdictions

Infrastructure
The Cayman Islands Airport Authority President Irfaan Ali of Guyana, as quoted in the
(“CIAA”) has invested over $120 million
since 2015 in the redevelopment of the
Financial Times:
island’s international airport and airfield.
In February 2022, the CIAA issued a Wisely, infrastructure plans are focused on creating
tender to upgrade facilities for private long-term social and economic benefits for citizens.
jets, a strategy in line with the
government’s stated focus on attracting The President’s approach is [… to build
high-net-worth individuals to boost the infrastructure that the country needs . . . and not
tourism industry. In The Bahamas,
tourism infrastructure is also a focus for investment in infrastructure that looks good.]
government investment, with nearly
$130 million being spent to date on The importance of sustainability is also a
upgrades for the Nassau Cruise Port,
expected to be finished in late 2022.
consideration for the Guyanese including protecting
National airline Bahamasair is reviewing rainforests and developing ecotourism
their strategic plan to improve tourist air
travel numbers, and the Bahamas
Government is seeking to enter into
Public Private Partnerships for a
number of Family Island airports.

Guyana is on a different trajectory than

many other small countries in the island
regions. As a result of the discovery of
offshore oil reserves in 2015, the
economy is booming. The IMF forecasts
economic growth of 47% in 2022.

Conclusion
To meet the new reality, economies are
transforming. The regeneration and
optimism of islands is astounding.
Governments are re-conceptualizing
their role as market stewards, while
industries are pursuing new partnership
and growth models. Jurisdictions should
consider the right mix of incentives,
infrastructure, and regulatory structures
to attract business and investors.
Governments and businesses working
with investors are looking for
sustainable value, have the potential to
generate significant economic growth in
the island regions.

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Bahamas Cayman and the British Malta
Virgin Islands
Simon Townend Marco Vassallo
Partner Niko Whittaker Partner
+1 242 393 2007 Partner +356 25631140
stownend@kpmg.com.bs +1 345 914 4369 marcovassallo@kpmg.com.mt
nwhittaker@kpmg.ky
Shana Lee Curt Gauci
Managing Director Sam Story Director
+1 242 393 2007 Director +356 25631895
shanalee@kpmg.com.bs +1 345 547 8647 curtgauci@kpmg.com.mt
samstory@kpmg.ky

Barbados and the Eastern

Crown Dependencies (Channel Trinidad & Tobago
Caribbean Islands & Isle of Man)
Arnold Niranjan
Christopher Brome Simon Nicholas +1 868 612 5764
Partner Partner aniranjan@kpmg.co.tt
+1 246 434 3900 +44 162 468 1002
cbrome@kpmg.bb snicholas@kpmg.co.im

Melanie Greenidge
Director
+1 246 434 3900 Jamaica
melaniegreenidge@kpmg.bb
Raymond Campbell
Partner
+1 876 922 6640
Bermuda
raymondcampbell@kpmg.com.jm
Lori Rockhead
Director
+1 441 295 5063
lorirockhead@kpmg.bm

Dr. Edward Fitzgerald

Senior Manager
+1 441 295 5063
edwardfitzgerald@kpmg.bm

The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we
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particular situation.

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