CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. May 24, 2013: The countdown is on to the Avalon Invest Caribbean Now forum, the definitive Caribbean investment meeting and the most promoted item on the Caribbean Week calendar, set for June 5^th from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Radisson Martinique, 49 West 32nd Street at Broadway in New York City.

With over 1,000 media placements already including on the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Bloomberg and Reuters, the conference remains true to its goal of matching international financial influencers with government officials and policy makers from “Paradise,” the last emerging market on earth.

Speakers and panelists confirmed for ICN 2013 are:

Anthony Eterno, U.S. State Department

Dr. Rufus Ewing, Premier Turks & Caicos Islands, (TCI)

Washington Misick, Finance Minister, Turks & Caicos Islands

Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Chairman, Caribbean Tourism Organization, (CTO) and Commissioner Tourism, USVI

Alan Lowenstein, managing director, Wedgewood Investment Group

E.Jay Saunders, CEO, Digicel TCI

Heather Floissac, managing director, Belle Vue Properties Ltd

Brian Lilly, CEO, Lilly Broadcasting and One Caribbean Television

Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International

Miguel Reyna, director, port business development and asset management, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Dr. Grace Lappin, managing director, Avalon Partners

Xiaoguang Liu, consul in charge of economic & commercial affairs of the Consulate General of China in New York

Jianxin Lin, president of American Chinese Commerce Development Association, (ACCDA)

Li Li, managing director of the Chinese American Business Development Center, (CABDC)

Ganesh Ramanathan, creative director, Hard Beat Communications

Felicia Persaud, CMO, Hard Beat Communications.

Government attendees will include:

John Percy de Jongh, Jr,   Governor, US Virgin Islands

Hubert Hughes, Chief Minister, Anguilla

Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister Tourism & International Transport, International Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs, St. Kitts

Lorne Theophilus, Minister Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries, St. Lucia

Stephen Cadiz, Minister Tourism, Trinidad & Tobago

Assemblyman Tracy Davidson-Celestine, Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary, Division of Tourism and Transportation of Tobago

Mark Brantley, Minister Tourism, Nevis

Nicolaas Sneek, Commissioner St. Eustatius

Hugh Riley, secretary general, Caribbean Tourism Organization, (CTO).

Private sector representatives will include senior executives from JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, Nomura, CIBC World Capital, Ibis Investments, Aegis Capital, Portfolio Credit Management Limited, DHL, Marriott International, Spackman Capital, Royal Caribbean Cruise, Ltd., One Caribbean Television, Avalon Partners, Digicel, TCI, Scotiabank TCI and Sun Realty among others.

A VIP only reception for sponsors, speakers, panelists and special guests will precede the forum on June 4^th at the Yale Club and will be sponsored by The Turks & Caicos Islands Investment Agency.

Tickets at US$185 are available only through May 24^th for the June 5^th forum at http://investcaribbeannow.com/registration/

The coveted 2013 ICN Leadership Award will be presented to Royal Caribbean International.

Invest Caribbean Now is organized annually by The Caribbean Tourism Organization and digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications, during Caribbean Week in New York.

ICN 2013 is sponsored by marquee sponsor Avalon Partners; gold sponsors, The Turks & Caicos Islands Investment Agency and Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd; bronze sponsor, One Caribbean Television and supporting sponsors, The Chinese American Business Development Center, the American Chinese Commerce Development Association and No-Jet-Lag.

2013 media partners are: The PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, WINN FM of St. Kitts, South Florida Caribbean, Caribseek, Antigua Tribune, Bahamas Spectator, Barbados Gazette, British Caribbean News, Caribbean ET Roundup, Caribbean Financials, Cuba Chronicle, Dominica Gazette, Dominican Republic Post, Dutch Caribbean News, French Caribbean News, Grenada Chronicle, Guyana Inquirer, Haiti Gazette, Jamaica Inquirer, Puerto Rico Tribune, St. Kitts Gazette, St. Lucia Chronicle, St. Vincent Tribune, Trinidad Tribune, the Bajan Reporter , The Bahamas Weekly and Bahamas Local.

Delegates at ICN 2012. (Sharon Bennett image)

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 26, 2013: Invest Caribbean Now officials are urging all Caribbean nationals and friends of the Caribbean to assist those who suffered from the Boston terror bombing on April 15th.

Felicia Persaud, the organizer of Invest Caribbean Now, said everyone should put the victims of the attack and Boston first. Invest Caribbean Now, while still seeking support for its next event, took time to make a donation to the Boston Fund. Persaud urges everyone involved to do the same.  ”If we can set an example in our own small way we hope that is worth something,” she said.

Boston is made up of some 27 percent of Caribbean immigrants.“Caribbean nationals have lived in the United States since during slavery and continue to build this country up not tear it down,” said ICN officials. “So it is important for us to show our love and support in a tangible way for this our adopted homeland. We hope all Caribbean nationals and friends of ICN will support the people of Boston in this tragedy.”

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino have announced the creation of “The One Fund Boston,” which will raise money to help those affected by the tragic events that unfolded during the Marathon.

Invest Caribbean Now is being presented this year by Avalon Partners in conjunction with The Caribbean Tourism Organization; digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications and One Caribbean Television, during Caribbean Week in New York.

Attendees this year will get the chance to learn about investment opportunities in the Turks & Caicos from its premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing and the country’s Minister of Finance C. Washington Misick while also getting a chance to meet ministers of government from several other territories.

Additionally, there will be panels of development, tourism and beyond as well as a discussion on China’s growing involvement in the Caribbean and the special presentation to this year’s corporate leadership award winner.

Early bird tickets for ICN 2013 will be available only through April 30^th at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e6oz57kp0f880fbe. Persons seeking tables of 10 are also urged to book before April 30^th at http://investcaribbeannow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Tablesponsor.pdf

A US$500 journal ad offer is available through April 30^th at http://investcaribbeannow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ProgramJournal.pdf for companies who would like to target the high end audience but cannot be present. The half-page color ad will be published in the event’s journal and stay archived on the website, InvestCaribbeanNow.com for year-round exposure.

Partners for ICN 2013 are: Avalon Partners, One Caribbean Television, The PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Caribbean Lifestyle Communications of Trinidad, WINN FM of St. Kitts, South Florida Caribbean, Caribseek, The Bahamas Weekly, the Bajan Reporter , Antigua Tribune, Bahamas Spectator, Barbados Gazette, British Caribbean News, Caribbean ET Roundup, Caribbean Financials, Cuba Chronicle, Dominica Gazette, Dominican Republic Post, Dutch Caribbean News, French Caribbean News, Grenada Chronicle, Guyana Inquirer, Haiti Gazette, Jamaica Inquirer, Puerto Rico Tribune, St. Kitts Gazette, St. Lucia Chronicle, St. Vincent Tribune, Trinidad Tribune, and Bahamas Local.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 12, 2013: The Caribbean’s region’s diverse investment options go way beyond its talents like Barbados-born Rihanna, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and Trinidad & Tobago’s Nicki Minaj.

Those options will be up for discussion when Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands as well as over a dozen other Caribbean ministers of governments gather for the international investment forum, Avalon Invest Caribbean Now 2013, (ICN 2013), on June 5th at the Radisson Martinique in New York City.

“Contrary to popular opinion, the Caribbean region is not just a vacation destination but a region that is rich in its diversity of  investment opportunities and talent, like we have seen in Rihanna, Usain and Nicki among others,” commented Invest Caribbean Now organizers.

“U.S. and Latin American investors in alternative markets would be well advised to look at this last emerging market on earth that is attractive to Chinese and Russian investors as well and make it a date to attend Invest Caribbean Now.”

Invest Caribbean Now is presented annually by The Caribbean Tourism Organization; digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications and One Caribbean Television, during Caribbean Week in New York, which falls during Caribbean American Heritage Month in the United States.

Limited partnership opportunities are still available by contacting Joe Bernstein at joe@investcaribbeannow.com or logging on to ICN’s brand new website at Investcaribbeannow.com.

Tickets for the June 5th forum are also still available. Register today at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e6oz57kp0f880fbe

Supplementary information on the event can be found on the event’s pages on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/invest.caribbean and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/InvestingCarib

Partners for ICN 2013 are: Avalon Partners, One Caribbean Television, The PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Caribbean Lifestyle Communications of Trinidad, WINN FM of St. Kitts, South Florida Caribbean, Caribseek, Antigua Tribune, Bahamas Spectator, Barbados Gazette, British Caribbean News, Caribbean ET Roundup, Caribbean Financials, Cuba Chronicle, Dominica Gazette, Dominican Republic Post, Dutch Caribbean News, French Caribbean News, Grenada Chronicle, Guyana Inquirer, Haiti Gazette, Jamaica Inquirer, Puerto Rico Tribune, St. Kitts Gazette, St. Lucia Chronicle, St. Vincent Tribune, Trinidad Tribune, the Bajan Reporter and The Bahamas Weekly.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Tues April 2, 2013: Following an announcement cancelling the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference, (CHTIC), Invest Caribbean Now 2013, (ICN 2013), officials reiterated this week that ICN 2013 is going strong and on for June 4 and 5th in New York City.  ICN 2013 is now the only investment forum on the Caribbean region confirmed for 2013.

Grace Lappin, managing director of Avalon Partners and the marquee sponsor of Invest Caribbean Now 2013, said ICN is the definitive investment forum which has brought together over 600 high powered investors and Caribbean government officials in the past two years. This year it is returning in an expanded form, with a June 4th pre-forum VIP cocktail reception at The Yale Club and the major event the following morning at the Radisson Martinique Hotel.

Lappin said ICN 2013 is saddened to hear of the cancellation of CHIC, but insisted that the ICN 2013 forum is more than ready to fill the void by providing a platform to connect overseas businesses and investors with investment opportunities in the Caribbean. This year’s expanded format will ensure organizers reach their goal of boosting foreign direct investment in the region through ICN’s exclusive match-making platform.

“The event will begin on June 4th from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Yale Club with a private VIP cocktail reception while the June 5th forum will see ICN2013 focus on real investment opportunities in this emerging market from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Radisson Martinique hotel in NYC.  Targeted discussions and panel presentations will include a spotlight on the Turks & Caicos Islands; attention to the Jamaica Stock Exchange as well as an exploration of opportunities across the region,” said Lappin. “Real estate and marina development options will also be shared while our major corporate awardee will be announced.”

Sponsorship opportunities are still available by contacting Joe Bernstein at joe@investcaribbeannow.com or logging on to ICN’s brand new website at Investcaribbeannow.com.

Limited tickets for the June 5th forum are available. Register today at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e6oz57kp0f880fbe

Media partners for ICN 2013 are: One Caribbean Television, The PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Caribbean Lifestyle Communications of Trinidad, WINN FM of St. Kitts, South Florida Caribbean, Caribseek, Antigua Tribune, Bahamas Spectator, Barbados Gazette, British Caribbean News, Caribbean ET Roundup, Caribbean Financials, Cuba Chronicle, Dominica Gazette, Dominican Republic Post, Dutch Caribbean News, French Caribbean News, Grenada Chronicle, Guyana Inquirer, Haiti Gazette, Jamaica Inquirer, Puerto Rico Tribune, St. Kitts Gazette, St. Lucia Chronicle, St. Vincent Tribune, Trinidad Tribune, the Bajan Reporter and The Bahamas Weekly.

Supplementary information on the event can be found on the event’s pages on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/invest.caribbean and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/InvestingCarib

Li Ruogu of the Export-Import Bank of China finances a resort in the Bahamas ((AP Photo/Tim Aylen)

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. March 22, 2013: Chinese businesses looking at investment opportunities in the Caribbean are coming to the Avalon Partners Invest Caribbean Now power forum in New York City this June, set for the Radisson Martinique Hotel.

Digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications, which presents the annual forum in association with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, is this year also teaming up with the Chinese American Business Development Center to put the spotlight on Chinese foreign direct investment in the region. According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, investments in the Caribbean by China totaled nearly $7 billion in 2009, a more than 300 percent increase from the 2004 foreign direct investment of $1.7 billion.

In commenting on the partnership, Peter Zhang, President of the Chinese American Business Development Center, said: “We are very happy to be a partner of Invest Caribbean Now 2013, and although it’s the first year of our collaboration, we look forward to many years together and to providing a great platform for Chinese investors to understand and learn more about investment opportunities in the Caribbean.”

“In recent years, the Chinese have quickly expanded their business activities in the Caribbean region,” he added. “As those countries continue to develop, China will undoubtedly play a significant role in their business progress and advancement. We are confident this event would be a great opportunity for China and Caribbean governments and enterprises as well as U.S. investors, to communicate and achieve a win-win solution.”

Felicia Persaud, founder of Invest Caribbean Now, welcomed the partnership, noting that with growing Chinese investments in the region, and with millions of Chinese traveling abroad annually, the Chinese American Business Development Center’s involvement in ICN 2013 will only help to boost more interest and investment in the economically viable Caribbean region.

The Chinese American Business Development Center will bring together businesses from China interested in doing business in the Caribbean to be a part of the forum. Additionally, China’s Economic Counsel is expected to address delegates, who will include Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing of the Turks & Caicos Islands, as well as over a dozen ministers of government from the Caribbean, on why this region is such an attractive investment destination.

Invest Caribbean Now 2013, which will be more expansive and longer this year, with a broader focus from panels on the Caribbean and investment opportunities there, will be held on June 5^th from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in New York City. A private VIP reception will be held on June 4^th at The Yale Club.

More information on the event is available on ICN’s brand new website, which was launched this week at InvestCaribbeanNow.com.

Media partners for ICN 2013 are: One Caribbean Television, The PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Caribbean Lifestyle Communications of Trinidad, WINN FM of St. Kitts, South Florida Caribbean, Caribseek, Antigua Tribune, Bahamas Spectator, Barbados Gazette, British Caribbean News, Caribbean ET Roundup, Caribbean Financials, Cuba Chronicle,Dominica Gazette,Dominican Republic Post, Dutch Caribbean News, French Caribbean News, Grenada Chronicle, Guyana Inquirer, Haiti Gazette, Jamaica Inquirer, Puerto Rico Tribune, St. Kitts Gazette, St. Lucia Chronicle, St. Vincent Tribune, Trinidad Tribune, The Bajan Reporter and The Bahamas Weekly.

Limited partnership and speaker/panellist opportunities are currently still available. For more information email Joe Bernstein at joe@investcaribbeannow.com

Limited tickets for the June 5^th forum are available. Register today at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e6oz57kp0f880fbe

Supplementary information on the event can be found on the event’s pages on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/invest.caribbean and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/InvestingCarib

Panelists at the 2012 Invest Caribbean Now forum in NYC in June 2012. (Sharon Bennett image)

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Jan. 25, 2013:  Investment opportunities in the last emerging market on earth will again take the spotlight this June 5^th as luxury real estate company, Avalon Partners, presents the third edition of the Invest Caribbean Now Power Forum, ICN 2013, during Caribbean Week in New York City.

The event, organized since 2011 by award-winning digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications, in conjunction with the governmental regional tourism grouping, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, has attracted a high caliber of delegates in the past two years, including over 600 investment bankers, private equity investors, ministers’ of governments, hotel developers, tourism officials, architects, real estate developers, financial advisers, entrepreneurs and the media.

In 2013, the Avalon-presented forum will be more expansive, with a longer event and broader focus on the Caribbean and investment opportunities there through invited exhibitors from the regional arms of the various investment agencies as well as other companies.

A stellar agenda is already being developed that will include spotlighting the investment opportunities in the economically viable territory of  The Turks & Caicos Islands, with attendance slated from a cadre of government and business leaders. Additionally, the forum will feature an address on The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, (FATCA) & The Caribbean, by a deputy secretary in the U.S. Department of the Treasury; Investing In The Caribbean Stock Exchanges – The Case Of Jamaica, by head of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Mrs. Marlene Street, as well as opportunities in luxury real estate and marina development.

Invest Caribbean Now founder and Hard Beat Communications, CEO, Felicia Persaud, welcomed the partnership with Avalon for 2013.

“We are very excited to welcome Avalon as presenters this year in a forum that is definitively dedicated to connecting U.S. investors with opportunities in what is truly the last emerging market on earth – the Caribbean,” said Persaud. “Avalon Partners attended this event in our inaugural year and this year they are our lead sponsor – which shows we are doing something right.”

Grace Lappin, managing partner of Avalon Partners, Ltd., and Tropical Destinations Expert for The Language of Luxury, said the company’s marquee sponsorship of ICN 2013 marks Avalon’s commitment and dedication to promoting the region through the Invest Caribbean Now Forum.

“As someone who has worked in the Caribbean real estate market for many years, I feel it is critical to support this important event. ICN is a groundbreaking forum that spotlights the economic viability of this region, a region often overlooked even by savvy investors. We hope our emphasis and outreach will encourage investors to revisit this region’s rich potential and support its rightful placement in the global economy.” said Lappin.

Additional partners for ICN 2013 are One Caribbean Television, The PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire and News Americas Now.  For partnership and special sponsorship/branding opportunities log on to here or email Joe Bernstein at joe@investcaribbeannow.com.

About Invest Caribbean Now:

The Invest Caribbean Now forum is the brainchild of Persaud, whose goal is to boost U.S. investors’ interest and investment in the region of her birth. Since its inaugural year, the event has earned rave reviews  and secured significant media coverage for its high powered attendees and presentations from top panelists, including: Wendell Dave Dowrich, vice president, Goldman Sachs; David Brillembourg, founder, chairman & chief executive officer, Brilla Group; Martin Mohabeer, managing director, Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital; President and co-founder of Solamon Energy Corp, Jay Yeo; Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Equity, LLC., Jonathan S. Blue and Lisa Lake, head of The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean.

Supplementary information on the event can be found at InvestCaribbeanNow.com, the event’s pages on Facebook and on Twitter. When tweeting about this event, use #InvestCarib.

About Avalon Partners

Avalon Partners is a luxury boutique firm specializing in incomparable personalized service. Its client base spans the globe and seeks out Avalon because of the company’s integrity, experience, and dedication, as well as its reputation for excellence. The company represents owners, financiers, and developers of unique properties, luxurious villas, ocean front estates, exceptional homes, and investment and commercial properties.

Jay Yeo, President of Solamon Energy, addressing the 2012 Invest Caribbean Now power forum on June 6th in NYC. (Sharon Bennett image)

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. June 22, 2012: The Caribbean region is rich in renewable energy and possesses tremendous capacity for solar, geothermal, tidal and wind projects.

That’s according to Jay Yeo, President of Solamon Energy, which is building the largest solar energy plant in the Caribbean region. Yeo made the observation at June 6th Invest Caribbean Now power forum, hosted in New York City by digital media company Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

His comments come as the latest “Climatescope,” the first annual report, index and interactive web tool which scores 26 nations on their relative ability to foster low-carbon energy growth in the region of Latin America by the Multilateral Investment Fund of the Inter-American Development Bank and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, showed Brazil, Nicaragua and Panama grabbing chunks of investment in renewable but the Caribbean region way down the list with the Dominican Republic at 15.

Yeo said investment in renewables, especially solar, will not only lower the cost of energy across the region but helps create 11 times more jobs than natural gas or coal.

“Capital intensive renewable energy is an important vehicle to increase the inflow of capital into the Caribbean and achieve economic growth, said Yeo.

Forum delegates also heard from North American investors, Jonathan Blue, who touted his positive investment experiences, in the Caribbean region; CTO Chairman and minister of St. Kitts/Nevis, Senator Ricky Skerritt; Jean Arnell, vice president of the French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce; and Lisa Lake, Chief Entrepreneurship Officer of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean.

One of the world’s most renowned and successful entrepreneurs, Sir Richard Branson, was this year’s inaugural Leadership Award recipient.
“Let’s work together more than ever, from this day forward, to create an entrepreneurial Paradise, in Paradise,” said the Virgin Group and Branson Center of Entrepreneurship founder.

The forum was moderated by W. Dave Dowrich, V Vice President of Risk and Capital Markets in the Financial Institutions Group at Goldman Sachs.

The Invest Caribbean Now 2012 forum was funded in part by The French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce, (CCISM), One Caribbean Television and Teamsters Local 237, a union of 24,000 New York City employees who work in government agencies and several municipalities on Long Island, while supporting sponsors included the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now and Damoola Inc.

CTO Chairman and minister of tourism of St. Kitts/Nevis, Senator Ricky Skerritt, addressing the 2012 Invest Caribbean Now forum. (Sharon Bennett image)

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. June 15, 2012: The Caribbean needs investment partners who will join hands with us for the long-term and invest in our easily trainable Caribbean people.

That’s the word from Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Minister of Tourism of St. Kitts/Nevis, Senator Ricky Skerritt. Skerritt made the call at the June 6th Invest Caribbean Now power forum, hosted in New York City by digital media company Hard Beat Communications and the CTO.

“Caribbean people are really our most valuable asset and represent a genuine and critical source of what makes our region so special,” said the CTO Chair. “I therefore submit to you that investing in Caribbean people development must be an essential portion of any major tourism investment in our region.”

Pointing to the growth in the region’s tourism sector last year, Skerritt insisted that the Caribbean’s proximity to the US makes it both a prime tourist destination and a secondary home location.

“With the public investment programs of so many of our Caribbean governments having been compromised because of recent fiscal shocks, there should now be more opportunities than ever before for private investors to get involved in financing, designing, building, and even operating, select public sector infrastructure and services projects,” he added.

One of the world’s most renowned and successful entrepreneurs, Sir Richard Branson, was this year’s inaugural Leadership Award recipient. Branson, in his acceptance remarks, reiterated Skerritt’s statement, insisting “that while tourism will always remain a key industry, there’s so much more to attract investment to these beautiful and vibrant islands, not least, the people.”

“Let’s work together more than ever, from this day forward, to create an entrepreneurial Paradise, in Paradise,” said the Virgin Group and Branson Center of Entrepreneurship founder.

Forum delegates also heard from North American investors, Jonathan Blue and Jay Yeo, who both touted their positive investment experiences, in the Caribbean region even as Jean Arnell, vice president of the French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce, told the audience that the Caribbean island is open for business.

“With more than a dozen ministers of government, including a premier and a chief minister, as well as dozens of private sector attendees from investment firms in attendance, what we have proven is that the Invest Caribbean Now forum, while only in its second year, is simply THE investment event of the Caribbean,” said Felicia Persaud, CEO of Hard Beat Communications and convener of Invest Caribbean Now, in summing up the conclusion of the June 6th sold out power forum.

The forum was moderated by W. Dave Dowrich, V Vice President of Risk and Capital Markets in the Financial Institutions Group at Goldman Sachs, who observed that “too long the Caribbean has been simply known as a playground and great for partying but when it comes to the serious business of investment – not so much so.”

The Invest Caribbean Now 2012 forum was funded in part by The French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce, (CCISM), One Caribbean Television and Teamsters Local 237, a union of 24,000 New York City employees who work in government agencies and several municipalities on Long Island, while supporting sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, the Museum of American Finance, ALTA and Damoola Inc.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Tuesday June 5, 2012: More than a dozen ministers of government, including a premier and a chief minister from the Caribbean, will gather in New York City tomorrow for the second annual Invest Caribbean Now Power Forum.

The investment breakfast, a partnership between digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the regional tourism arm, is set for the Marriott Marquis in Times Square New York City on June 6th from 7:30 to 10 a.m.

Among the high powered attendees of this year’s event include Dr. Daniel Orlando Smith, OBE, Premier and minister of finance and tourism of the British Virgin Islands; Chief Minister Government of Anguilla, Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Commerce & Tourism, Hubert Hughes; Minister of Business Development and Tourism of Bermuda, Wayne Furbert; Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Minister of Tourism, & International Transport of St. Kitts/Nevis, Ricky  Skerritt; Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation of The Bahamas, Obe Wilchcombe; Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture of St. Vincent & Grenadines, Cecil Mckie; Minister of Tourism of St. Maarten, Romeo Pantophlet; Minister of Ministry of State of Jamaica, Damion Crawford; Minister of Tourism, Heritage, Culture and Creative Industries of St. Lucia, Lorne Theophilus; Minister of Tourism of Trinidad and Tobago, Rupert Theophilus Griffith; Minister of Tourism of Haiti, Stephanie Balmir-Villedrouin;  Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation of Grenada, Dr. George Vincent; acting Minister of Tourism of Guyana, Irfaan Ali; Luis Gerardo Rivera Marin, current Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and Alain Richardson, President of the Collectivity of St. Martin.
Invest Caribbean Now 2012 panellists are Jonathan S. Blue, Chairman & Managing Director, Blue Equity, LLC. and CEO of Cool Petroleum; Jay Yeo, President, Solamon Energy Corp.; Lisa Lake, Chief Development Director, Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean; Jean Arnell, vice president of the French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce and Hon. Minister of St. Kitts and CTO Chairman, Ricky Skerrit.
Organizers of Invest Caribbean Now 2012 will also honour world renowned business leader, Sir Richard Branson with the 2012 Leadership Award for his commitment to the Caribbean via the launch of his Branson Center of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean.

The forum comes as Chinese investment in the Caribbean continues to boom in this free trade emerging market economy that is politically stable and boosts a highly literate work force and an established tourism market, and which the International Monetary Fund and World Bank forecast will see a 3.5 percent growth into 2013, higher than the economies of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and similar to those of East Asia.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 sponsors are The French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce, (CCISM), One Caribbean Television and Teamsters Local 237, a union of 24,000 New York City employees who work in government agencies and several municipalities on Long Island, while supporting sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now and Damoola Inc.

Supplementary information on the event can be found at InvestCaribbeanNow.com, the event’s pages on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Invest-Caribbean/100002110419705 and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/InvestingCarib. When tweeting about this event, use #InvestCarib.

Registration for this event is now closed.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Friday June 1, 2012: Investment opportunities in the emerging market of the Caribbean region will help usher in Caribbean American Heritage Month in the United States this June as the Invest Caribbean Now Power Forum returns to the Big Apple.

The event, set for the Marriott Marquis in Times Square New York City on June 6th from 7:30 to 10 a.m., is a partnership between digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the regional tourism arm.

Caribbean American Heritage Month has been celebrated in the U.S. each June since 2006.

“The Caribbean is often tagged as a fun, sea and sand destination. In Caribbean American Heritage Month, as we pause to remember the millions of Caribbean nationals who have lived in the United States since slavery and served and contributed to its heritage through finance, politics, the arts, science, education, business, sports, the military and government, it is important to focus on the strong investment potential of this region and the entrepreneurial spirit of its people,” said Felicia Persaud, convener of Invest Caribbean Now and CEO of Hard Beat.

This year’s Invest Caribbean Now panellists are Jonathan S. Blue, Chairman & Managing Director, Blue Equity, LLC. and CEO of Cool Petroleum; Jay Yeo, President, Solamon Energy Corp.; Lisa Lake, Chief Development Director, Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean; Jean Arnell, vice president of the French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce and Hon. Minister of Tourism of St. Kitts and Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Ricky Skerrit.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012, which will also honour world renowned business leader, Sir Richard Branson with the 2012 Leadership Award for his commitment to the Caribbean via the launch of his Branson Center of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean.

The forum comes as Chinese investment in the Caribbean continues to boom in this free trade emerging market economy that is politically stable and boosts a highly literate work force and an established tourism market, and which the International Monetary Fund and World Bank forecast will see a 3.5 percent growth into 2013, higher than the economies of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and similar to those of East Asia.

To book last minute seats to the event log on now to InvestCaribbeanNow.com or call 718-476-3616.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 sponsors are The French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce, (CCISM), One Caribbean Television and Teamsters Local 237, a union of 24,000 New York City employees who work in government agencies and several municipalities on Long Island, while supporting sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now and Damoola Inc.

For remaining sponsorship opportunities email Joe Bernstein at joe@investcaribbeannow.com.

Supplementary information on the event can be found at InvestCaribbeanNow.com, the event’s pages on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Invest-Caribbean/100002110419705 and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/InvestingCarib. When tweeting about this event, use #InvestCarib.

Carib PR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. May 11, 2012: Reiterating its commitment to the Caribbean region, One Caribbean Television returns this June as a partner of the 2012 Invest Caribbean Now Power Forum.

OCTV, which jumped on board to help present the inaugural forum last June, has again signed on to the second annual Caribbean Tourism Organization and Hard Beat Communications investment forum, slated for June 6, 2012 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City.

“We are pleased to be joined by OCTV for a second year in a row,” said Felicia Persaud, CEO of Hard Beat Communications and convener of Invest Caribbean Now. “What OCTV has done is reiterated its investment commitment to this region and that is certainly a breath of fresh air in an investment arena here few respect this region as a fertile investment destination.”

“OCTV is proud to partner with Hard Beat Communications at Invest Caribbean Now Power Forum because it brings together so many like minded” people who see the Caribbean as a future place to do business, not just in recreation and tourism, but the many areas of untapped resources and talent the region has to offer,” said OTV officials. “We look forward to meeting people at the forum that we can not only do business with, but form long term partnerships and friendships!”

One Caribbean Television (OCTV) started off as a Caribbean Weather Channel, serving the Caribbean, Latin, Central and South America with current conditions and severe weather, tropical storm and hurricane coverage.  That platform has been rapidly expanding to News, Business Reports, Sports Reports, Entertainment and Local Events as well as reports from correspondents on the islands and reports from New York City, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Our goal is to provide as much Caribbean content as possible and to continue to provide our viewers the quality programming that they deserve.

OCTV is expanding its cable penetration in the Caribbean, Latin, Central and South America and is projecting its launch in the US and Canadian markets!

The Invest Caribbean Now Power Forum is done in collaboration with the Caribbean Tourism Organization to educate the private sector on Wall Street of the hot Caribbean market as well and boost interest in investment opportunities in the Caribbean and its Diaspora.

This year’s panelists are Chairman of Blue Equity, Jonathan Blue; President and co-founder of Solamon Energy Corp, Jay Yeo, Hon. Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization & Minister of Tourism & International Transport Government of St. Kitts & Nevis, Ricky Skerritt and  Lisa Lake, the chief development director of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean. The 2012 Leadership Award recipient is Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group.

Invest Caribbean Now returns for a second year as Chinese investment in the Caribbean continues to boom in this free trade region that is politically stable and boosts attractive tax incentives, a highly literate work force and an established tourism market, and which the International Monetary Fund and World Bank forecast will see a 3.5 percent growth into 2013, higher than those of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and similar to those of East Asia.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 sponsors include La Chambre Consulaire Interprofessionnelle de Saint-Martin, (CCISM) and One Caribbean Television while supporting sponsors are the PR Newswire, WSEE TV, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Damoola Inc., The Museum of American Finance and The Affiliated Lawyers of the Americas.

Additional information on the event can be found at InvestCaribbeanNow.com, the event’s pages on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Invest-Caribbean/100002110419705 and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/InvestingCarib.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 sponsors also include La Chambre Consulaire Interprofessionnelle de Saint-Martin, (CCISM), the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Damoola Inc and The Affiliated Lawyers of the Americas (”ALTA“) and the Museum of American Finance.

For additional partnership opportunities email Joe Bernstein at joe@investcaribbeannow.com or log on to the sponsorship section of investcaribbeannow.com.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, May 4, 2012: The momentum is building to the most talked about Caribbean investment forum that brings together ministers of government with investors in New York City, the investment capital of the world.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012, which will honour world renowned business leader, Sir Richard Branson, is now just 33 days away and tickets are in going fast for the June 6, 2012 emerging market meeting, set for 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the Marquis Ballroom of the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, organizers say.

The power forum, a partnership between the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the regional tourism arm and digital media company, Hard Beat Communications, will see panellists addressing the question: “Is The Caribbean, The Next China, India Or Brazil?”

Invest Caribbean Now comes as Chinese investment in the Caribbean continues to boom in this free trade region that is politically stable and boosts attractive tax incentives, a highly literate work force and an established tourism market, and which the International Monetary Fund and World Bank forecast will see a 3.5 percent growth into 2013, higher than those of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and similar to those of East Asia.

“If you are  a private equity investor, investment banker, financier, real estate developer, hotel chain executive, lawyers, architect or entrepreneur, looking to grow your money and do business in an emerging market that is on the up and up, then this is a can’t miss event,” said Felicia Persaud, co-convener of Invest Caribbean Now and CEO of Hard Beat. “To book last minute seats to the event log on now to InvestCaribbeanNow.com.”

Panellists for the annual power forum this June include feature Chairman of Blue Equity, Jonathan Blue; President and co-founder of Solamon Energy Corp, Jay Yeo and Lisa Lake, the chief development director of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean; Hon. Ricky Skerritt, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Minister of Tourism & International Transport of St. Kitts & Nevis and an official of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.

Blue, who already invests in the Caribbean, commented: “Our initial entry in the Caribbean market has led us to more progressive and larger scale opportunities in which we are investing or are continuing to evaluate.  We look forward to expanding our Caribbean presence in the very near future.”

“The Caribbean region is rich in entrepreneurial spirit and in opportunities to grow the economy. Tourism has sustained this region for many years. We now need to develop and add diversity to the market by investing in the skills of entrepreneurs in the Caribbean and to help them scale their businesses and employ people while to competing in a global market,”    Lake added.

The forum will also include an interactive question and answer segment as well as a one hour match making/networking session to allow for attendees to do business.

For exhibitor and additional sponsorship opportunities email Joe Bernstein at joe@investcaribbeannow.com.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 sponsors include La Chambre Consulaire Interprofessionnelle de Saint-Martin, (CCISM) and One Caribbean Television while supporting sponsors are the PR Newswire, WSEE TV, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Damoola Inc., The Museum of American Finance and The Affiliated Lawyers of the Americas.

Additional information on the event can be found at InvestCaribbeanNow.com, the event’s pages on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Invest-Caribbean/100002110419705 and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/InvestingCarib. When tweeting about this event, use #InvestCarib.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 3, 2012: Find out this June when the second Invest Caribbean Now power forum returns to New York City.

 “The first Invest Caribbean Forum in June 2011 was a pivotal moment in developing interest in a new era of entrepreneurship and investing in the Caribbean. This year’s forum promises to be even more significant in advancing U.S. and worldwide interest in emerging opportunities throughout the Caribbean,” said Felicia Persaud, the convener of Invest Caribbean 2012 for the Caribbean Tourism Organization, in announcing this year’s forum.

Coming on the heels of an ultra successful event in 2011 that featured over 300 money managers, investors, hoteliers, ministers of governments and real estate developers, the Invest Caribbean Now power forum will return to New York City this June as part of Caribbean Week in New York.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization will again partner with digital media company, Hard Beat Communications, to present the second investment forum on June 6, 2012 in New York City.

The event earned rave reviews in its inaugural years in 2011 and secured significant media coverage for its impassioned appeal from Hard Beat CEO, Persaud, and presentations from Wendell Dave Dowrich, Vice President, Goldman Sachs; David Brillembourg, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Brilla Group and Martin Mohabeer, Managing Director, Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital.

2012 is set to be more exciting as the event will feature private equity investors in the region, telling their “Why Caribbean” story to other investors and attendees. This year’s confirmed speakers are CEO and founder of the award winning firm, McKinney Rogers, Damian McKinney; President and co-founder of Solamon Energy Corp, Jay Yeo; and Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Equity, LLC., Jonathan S. Blue. 

In just ten years McKinney, a former British Royal Marine has built a global organization with offices on every sub-continent. Today, McKinney Rogers is a premiere global consultancy, specializing in business execution. The firm has delivered tangible and sustainable results for such respected global organizations as Walmart, Bacardi, Grohe and Diageo. McKinney was also the winner of the coveted Executive of the Year Award for 2011.

Solamon Energy Corp is a renewable energy developer providing Caribbean and Central American clients with cost effective and reliable RE power generation solutions. Jay and his team work recently announced plans to build the Caribbean’s largest solar power plant in Jamaica. It is expected that the program, estimated to cost 450 million dollars, will enhance and improve Jamaica’s energy infrastructure, as well as help attract additional investment in the ICT and green tech sectors.

Blue Equity is a private equity firm with a diverse and innovative portfolio of business enterprises, with concentrations in oil and gas, media, healthcare, defense, financial services, real estate, manufacturing, art commerce, and sports and entertainment. Jonathan and Blue currently are already investing in the Caribbean through Cool Petroleum Limited, the licensed user of Shell brands in Jamaica and Island Ice & Beverage Company Limited, which manufactures and distributes packaged ice in the Caribbean. Blue Equity LLC says it will be expanding the network of gas stations in Jamaica under the Cool Petroleum brand and also hinted at another acquisition later this year, saying it remains optimistic about Jamaica’s prospects as an investment destination. 

“The Caribbean Tourism Organization is proud to team up with Hard Beat to present this event for the second year, since in these tough economic times, investment in the Caribbean and Latin America is critical and the CTO believes strongly in continuing to boost the tourism sector of this vibrant region by presenting investment opportunities for its members,” said Sylma Brown Bramble, director of CTO-USA Inc.

Partners to date include the PR Newswire, WSEE TV, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Damoola Inc and The Affiliated Lawyers of the Americas (”ALTA“).

For partnership and exhibitor opportunities log on to the sponsorship section of http://investcaribbeannow.com/ or call 646-820-5694.

Hard Beat CEO and Invest Caribbean Founder, Felicia Persaud

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Sept. 30. 21, 2011: The countdown has begun to Invest Caribbean Montego Bay. On the heels of the very successful inaugural Invest Caribbean Forum held in New York City in June 2011, the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry will host the Jamaica event next month at the Rose Hall convention center as part of their 14^th annual expo: ”Unleashing Innovations.”

The Invest Caribbean MoBay forum will kick off at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 14^th and feature three U.S. investors – Adam Borden, founder and managing director of the Baltimore-based Bradmer Foods, LLC; David  Freschman, managing principal of the Delaware-based Innovation Capital Advisors, LLC and founder of FashInvest; and Stanley Tobin, vice president of Young America Capital of New York.

 Each will present a five minute overview of their company and an educational insight on what they look for in investment opportunities before engaging in a face-to-face match making session with registered entrepreneurs.

 “What our efforts are proving is that there is a wealth of investor interest and a treasure trove of business opportunities in the Caribbean just waiting to be unlocked,” noted Hard Beat Communications CEO, Felicia Persaud, the architect of this series.

The October event is being presented by Hard Beat Communications, Inc., and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with RIU, Air Jamaica, News Americas, CaribPR Wire and WSEE TV.

Invest Caribbean recently concluded a successful forum with the Caribbean Tourism Organization during Caribbean Week in New York, June 9, 2011 featuring Goldman Sachs’ VP, W. Dave Dowrich; Spackman Capital CEO, Martin Mohabeer and CEO of the Brilla Group, David Brillembourg.

See Felicia Persaud’s opening at the June investment forum http://vimeo.com/25323506.

 To register for this forum and more, log on to http://investcaribbeannow.com/.

Adam Borden

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Sept. 2, 2011: Adam Borden knows a great food and beverage investment when he sees one. After all, his investment in the company that is now the global pioneer in açai products, is proof positive of that. Borden will be among the panelists of Invest Caribbean Montego Bay this Fall.

The October event is being presented by Hard Beat Communications’ CEO, Felicia Persaud  in collaboration with the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, and is set for the Rose Hall convention center as part of the Chamber’s 14^th annual expo that will be opened by Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Ambassador Albert Ramdin.

Borden, the managing director of Bradmer Foods, LLC, says his company is constantly looking for the next food trend and food entrepreneur, wherever that may be and whatever they may be making. 

“We’re excited to participate in Invest Caribbean because of the new foods and faces we’re likely to encounter.   We look for entrepreneurs with a vision for greatness, a distinguished product and a compelling story,” said Borden, who has also invested in Adina Beverages, an organic & Fair Trade drink company; Blue Horizon Wild, one of the leading marketers of sustainably harvested seafood products; Charles Chocolates, a San Francisco boutique chocolatier; Organic To Go, a West Coast organic catering and retail operation.

 Under the leadership of Persaud, the Caribbean region is being recast as an active entrepreneurial zone that is beyond sun, sand and sea.

 On the heels of the very successful inaugural Invest Caribbean Forum held in New York City in June 2011, which drew an impressive array of speakers and a large audience, Persaud has announced the Montego Bay, Jamaica event, the first foray into the Caribbean region.

 ”What our efforts are proving is that there is a wealth of investor interest and a treasure trove of business opportunities in the Caribbean just waiting to be unlocked,” noted Persaud, the architect of the series.

Invest Caribbean recently concluded a successful forum with the Caribbean Tourism Organization during Caribbean Week in New York, June 9, 2011 featuring Goldman Sachs’ W. Dave Dowrich, Spackman Capital CEO, Martin Mohabeer and CEO of the Brilla Group, David Brillembourg.

 See Felicia Persaud’s opening at the June investment forum http://vimeo.com/25323506.

 Entrepreneurs interested in registering for the October 14th forum and sponsors wishing to be a part of this exciting event should log on to http://investcaribbeannow.com/ for more details.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. August 19, 2011: Invest Caribbean will make its regional debut this Fall, descending on the city of Montego Bay, Jamaica on October 14^th for another innovative investment forum.

The October event is being presented by Hard Beat Communications, in collaboration with the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, and is set for the Rose Hall convention center as part of the Chamber’s 14^th annual expo that will be presented under the theme, ”Unleashing Innovations.”

The expo will be opened by Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Ambassador Albert Ramdin and will include the Invest Caribbean forum as part of the opening day.

The high-powered trade exposition will unleash innovative marketing and promotion opportunities for exhibitors in ways that the MBCCI Expo has never been staged. The event has become a calendar event for the Chamber and western Jamaica and boasts a wide diversity of exhibitors in industry and commerce, displaying their goods and services. These include manufactured goods, services, technology, tourism, craft, agriculture, trade and investment. The MBCCI Expo is in its 14^th year and will be targeting some 115 exhibitors.

The three-hour Invest Caribbean forum will feature three U.S. investors, including Adam Borden, founder and managing director of Bradmer Foods, LLC. Each will present a five minute overview of their company and what they look for in investments, before engaging in a face-to-face match making session with registered entrepreneurs.
The Invest Caribbean series is the brainchild of Hard Beat Communications’ CEO Felicia Persaud who sees the opportunity as the perfect way to partner high end investors seeking new opportunities in the Caribbean, with entrepreneurs and ministers/chambers in the region.

Invest Caribbean recently concluded a successful forum with the Caribbean Tourism Organization during Caribbean Week in New York, June 9, 2011.

“The June 2011 Invest Caribbean event delivered on the objective of the Caribbean Tourism Organization. It gave our members the assurance that investors perceive the Caribbean as an attractive region in which to do business and presented a great opportunity to begin the dialogue,” said Sylma Brown Bramble, Director, CTO North America.

“The ‘Investing in Paradise’ breakfast forum was a highly worthwhile gathering for those seeking opportunities in the exciting Caribbean frontier markets. The organizers attracted an excellent mix of existing and potential investors in the region complimented by government ministers and tourism sector executives. The presenters at ‘Investing in Paradise’ made an excellent case for what distinguishes the Caribbean from other destinations in the fierce race for international capital,” added Harold E. Doley, III, Principal of The Lugano Group Incorporated.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities to the Jamaica October event, log on to http://investcaribbeannow.com/.

W. Dave Dowrich, VP of Investment at Goldman Sachs, 2nd from r., with Chairman of the CTO, Ricky Skerritt, l; Minister Minors of Bermuda, 2.d from l., and Brian Lilly, r., CEO of Lilly Broadcasting and owner of WSEE TV and One Caribbean Weather, premier sponsors of the event. (Sharon Bennett image)

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. June 10, 2011: The Caribbean is being urged to compete for the global “wallet share” and step up the promotion of “its investment story.”

That’s the advice from W. Dave Dowrich, vice president of investment at Goldman Sachs and the keynote speaker at the inaugural Invest Caribbean Power Forum, convened by digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization in New York City on Thursday, June 9, 2011.

Dowrich, addressing a packed room at the New York Marriot Marquis Hotel in Times Square, insisted that the Caribbean’s investment “product” stacks up against most other regions of the world, including the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and China) on several fronts, such as political stability, accessibility and ease of doing business.

But “where we fall down is in selling and telling our investment story, i.e. the ‘Promotion – P’ of the principles of marketing,” he said of the CARICOM region, whose combined Gross Domestic Product is put at US$90 billion.

Comparing the Caribbean to private companies going public and the need to ensure that their story continues being told to their existing and future investor base, Dowrich said the Caribbean and its leaders must see investment in a similar vein.

“We therefore need to be sure that at every opportunity, our story is told on a consistent basis and told by credible and trust worthy folks such as our senior ministers, and then reinforced by our teams on the ground, who can ‘talk the talk’ of those that need to hear it,” he said.

Dowrich was one of four speakers who addressed the event yesterday. Others included Minister of Business Development & Tourism of Bermuda, Patrice Kimberly Minors; Martin Mohabeer, the Guyana-born Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital and David Brillembourg, CEO of the Brilla Group.

Minors for her part insisted that Bermuda remains open to doing business while Brillembourg advised that attention be turned to Latin American pension funds as potential investors in the Caribbean region.

Mohabeer announced the SEAF Caribbean Growth Fund, insisting that the Caribbean small business market is “tremendously underserved.”

“With this fund we hope to change that,” said Mohabeer, while adding that the fund will make investments in small to middle enterprise firms specializing in IT, media and technology and construction among other sectors.

Among the over 120 attendees at the event were several money managers from the New York’s investment community as well as top tourism officials from the Caribbean including the Hon. Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Minister of Tourism and International Travel for St. Kitts/Nevis, Ricky Skerritt; Hon. Richard Sealy, Minister of Tourism, Barbados; Hon. Ed Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; Commissioner of Tourism of St. Eustacius, Clyde Van Putten; Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Hugh Riley; Sylma Brown Bramble, director of CTO North America; Alec Sanguinetti, Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Josef Forstmayr, President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, and other top CTO officials as well as  Caribbean directors of tourism.

“This event surpassed our expectation,” said Felicia Persaud, CEO of Hard Beat Communications, which conceptualized and co-presented the event with the CTO. “We look forward to making this an annual part of Caribbean Week in New York.”

“The Caribbean Tourism Organization was proud to team up with Hard Beat to present this event, since in these tough economic times, investment in the Caribbean is critical and the CTO believes strongly in continuing to boost the tourism sector of this vibrant region by presenting investment opportunities for its members,” commented Brown-Bramble.

The Bermuda Department of Tourism and the Pennsylvania-based WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com, both part of Lilly Broadcasting Corporation, were the official sponsors of the ‘Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast.’

Additional sponsors included the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, News Americas Now and the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

ABOUT HARD BEAT COMMUNICATIONS

Hard Beat Communications brands itself as a Digital Media Solutions Company. The company does this through its Digital Content Creation and Dissemination and syndicated digital newswire – New Americas Now, formerly CaribWorldNews, its CaribPR wire release dissemination section, part of the PR Newswire; its Media Buying and Event Promotions arm and its New Media Solutions department.

ABOUT THE CTO

The Caribbean Tourism Organization exists to increase significantly the inclusion of the Caribbean region in the set of destinations being considered by travelers. The CTO, with headquarters in Barbados, comprises 32 member countries, including English, French, Spanish and Dutch countries and territories, as well as private sector allied members. Every year, the CTO presents “Caribbean Week In New York,” which Caribbean Week in New York is a celebration of the sights, sounds, colors, culture and unique vacation attributes of the Caribbean.

New York City Comptroller John Liu

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, June 3, 2011: New York City Comptroller John Liu, who helps manage $646 million in pension funds for New York City, is set to address the inaugural Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast next Thursday in mid-town Manhattan.

Liu will bring remarks to investors, Caribbean ministers of governments and entrepreneurs at the June 9^th event at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City at the ‘Investing in Paradise’ forum, that is being presented by digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization during Caribbean Week in New York.

Liu serves as the 43rd Comptroller of the City after being independently elected in 2009. He is hailed as a “trailblazer” and “pioneer,” since he is the first Asian American elected in New York City – both to legislative office in 2001 and citywide office in 2009

 Panelists of the investment event include Martin Mohabeer, the Guyana-born Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital; W. Dave Dowrich, Vice President at Goldman Sachs, and David Brillembourg, CEO of the Brilla Group.

The Hard Beat/CTO forum will be moderated by Professor Temisan Agbeyegbe, professor of Economics at Hunter College and Graduate Center, City University of New York and a research associate with The Caribbean Center for Monetary Studies, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

Brian Lilly, CEO of Lilly Broadcasting; Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and St. Kitts/Nevis minister of tourism, Ricky Skerritt and several Caribbean tourism ministers of government, commissioners and directors of tourism as well as officials of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, including Secretary General Hugh Riley and others from the business, travel and investment community will also be in attendance.

The Pennsylvania-based WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com, both part of Lilly Broadcasting Corporation, are the official sponsors of the ‘Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast.’

Additional sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, News Americas Now and the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

For more informationor for last minute registration, log on http://investcaribbeannow.com/.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, May 27, 2011: Entrepreneurs looking to meet investors or do business in the Caribbean have just days left to book their spot for the Investing in Paradise power forum.

Invest Caribbean 2011 is set for June 9^th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City and tickets are going fast for business owners seeking to network with Martin Mohabeer, the Guyana-born Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital; W. Dave Dowrich, Vice President at Goldman Sachs, and David Brillembourg, CEO of the Brilla Group.

Additionally, the event is also slated to feature New York City comptroller John Liu, who helps manage $646 million in pension funds for New York City; Brian Lilly, CEO of Lilly Broadcasting; Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and St. Kitts/Nevis minister of tourism, Ricky Skerritt and several Caribbean tourism ministers of government, commissioners and directors of tourism as well as officials of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, including Secretary General Hugh Riley and others from the business, travel and investment community.

The Investing In Paradise event is presented by digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization in Caribbean Week.

The Hard Beat/CTO forum will be moderated by Professor Temisan Agbeyegbe, professor of Economics at Hunter College and Graduate Center, City University of New York and a research associate with The Caribbean Center for Monetary Studies, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

The Pennsylvania-based WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com, both part of Lilly Broadcasting Corporation, and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, are the official sponsors of the ‘Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast.’

Additional sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, News Americas Now and the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Register at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e3p448ple41d4ad3. or for more information log on http://investcaribbeannow.com/.

Martin Mohabeer, Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital is among the panelists.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, May 20, 2011: They are collectively responsible for managing billions in assets daily and on June 9, 2011, a trio of U.S.-based investors and money managers will share their expertise and discuss opportunities they’ll consider for investment, at the inaugural Invest Caribbean 2011 Power Breakfast.

The Investing In Paradise event, presented by digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization in Caribbean Week, is set for set for June 9^th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

The forum will feature Martin Mohabeer, the Guyana-born Managing Director of Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital, who currently helps manage $1.3 billion in assets under management by the Hong Kong-based, privately-held investment conglomerate; W. Dave Dowrich, Vice President at Goldman Sachs, which has over 900 billion under its management; and David Brillembourg, CEO of the Brilla Group, who has founded two successful companies, executed over 30 M&A transactions and has raised nearly $150 million over the past decade from private and institutional investors.

Additionally, the event is also slated to feature New York City comptroller John Liu, who helps manage $646 million in pension funds for New York City.

Mario Gonzalez, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company; Brian Lilly, CEO of Lilly Broadcasting and Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and St. Kitts/Nevis minister of tourism, Ricky Skerritt will also address participants while several Caribbean tourism ministers of government, commissioners and directors of tourism as well as officials of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, including Secretary General Hugh Riley and others from the business, travel and investment community will be in attendance.

The Hard Beat/CTO forum will be moderated by Professor Temisan Agbeyegbe, professor of Economics at Hunter College and Graduate Center, City University of New York and a research associate with The Caribbean Center for Monetary Studies, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

“This is no talk shop but its where real capital meets investment opportunities,” said Felicia Persaud, CEO of Hard Beat Communications.  “Entrepreneurs, lenders, developers, hotel chain/management company executives, investment bankers, vacation ownership executives, financial advisors, real estate and financial intermediaries, builders, consultants, lawyers, architects and designers or anyone seeking to do business in the Caribbean, learn about investment opportunities there, raise capital to grow or expand your business or network with top investors and ministers of government should all make it a date to attend this event.”

“The Caribbean is a perfect destination for investment, given its stable governments, its tax incentives, its close proximity to the U.S. and it’s very high literary workforce and its superb beauty and climate,” added Sylma Brown Bramble, director of CTO North America.

The Pennsylvania-based WSEE TV and OneCaribbeanWeather.com, both part of Lilly Broadcasting Corporation, and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, are the official sponsors of the ‘Invest Caribbean Power Breakfast.’

Additional sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, The Bahamas Weekly, News Americas Now and the Caribbean American Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Tickets are going fast so register today at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7phqhyn6&oeidk=a07e3p448ple41d4ad3. Or for more information log on http://investcaribbeannow.com/.