CaribPR Wire

Felicia J. Persaud, ICN’s founder and CEO.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Nov. 25, 2015:  “Unlocking finance for Caribbean-born developers and existing regional companies is key as governments continue to struggle to grow their economies,” says Felicia J. Persaud, CEO at Invest Caribbean Now (ICN).

With banks in the region now less bullish on lending there, ICN, the definitive private sector investment agency of the Caribbean, has teamed up with several global private lenders to offer multi-million financing for projects ranging from US$5 million and up for major projects being developed in the Caribbean including building of villas, hotel and mixed-use properties.

This comes as the KPMG 2015 Caribbean Hospitality Financing Survey found that non-banks are more bullish on the Caribbean these days, with 17 percent saying it is the perfect time to lend in the region especially in Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos.

Not to be left out, ICN is also offering access to capital for Caribbean & Hispanic small to medium enterprises in the US or Canada. The options include cash advances to existing micro-enterprises on invoices as well as low interest loans and lines of credit of between US$5,000 to $250,000 to qualified business owners seeking capital for expansion and growth.

Key projects ICN is teaming to support include hotel financing, refinancing and/or expansion; renovation, expansion and acquisition of existing hotels, building and renovating apartments or villas. Other sectors will be considered on a project by project basis.

To learn more log on now investcaribbeannow.com can partner with you contact us here or via http://www.investcaribbeannow.com/contact.html

Invest Caribbean Now promotes and pushes for the right investment opportunities in the Caribbean region; offers a concierge service for high end investors seeking to make the right connection with key opportunities, governments and other parties in any Caribbean destination; connects major real estate projects with debt financing and small entrepreneurs in the US and Canadian Diaspora with small business loans and cash advances.

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SOURCE: Invest Caribbean Now

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kathy Bronson

Communications Coordinator

Invest Caribbean Now

[email protected]

718-476-3616

Attendees at the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) 41st Conference and Annual General Meeting held in Grenada from November 12-15, 2014. (CAB image)

CaribPR Wire, CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Monday November 24, 2014: The Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) successfully completed its 41^st Conference and Annual General Meeting in Grenada from 12-15^th November.  As a primary objective, CAB provides a forum that enables members to solve their common challenges through understanding, education and co-operation.

The conference, held under the theme – “The Changing Face of Caribbean Banking,” was officially opened by Her Excellency Dame Cecile La Grenade, Governor General of Grenada.  Featured speaker and industry veteran Mr. Ronald F. deC. Harford, Chairman of Republic Bank Limited, cited the main cause of the region’s struggle as its unsustainable economic model and the uncompetitive nature of its key sector, Tourism. The global financial crisis, he said, merely exposed the broken model on which the region’s economy is based.

On the first day of the conference, the keynote speaker, Hon. Ryan Pinder, Bahamas’ Minister of Financial Services, acknowledged an increasingly complex and regulated banking environment. He referred to some of the main challenges being faced now: global transparency, the impact of mandates from external multilateral institutions and the current state of volatility in Caribbean banking institutions. Hon. Pinder called for the industry to be creative when developing solutions and to be actively supportive of necessary public/private partnerships. He also emphasized the need to support collective human capacity development as “the Caribbean banking industry requires a platform where its employees and executives are able to refine their skills and knowledge to be able to react to a changing industry.”

During its two days, the CAB conference provided an excellent platform for many bankers and industry professionals to put forth their views, solutions and ideas on changes across the region; while providing time and a conducive environment for the executives to brainstorm on issues facing the industry including the challenging state of affairs. Some key topics discussed were: AML and CTF; Correspondent Banking Relationships; FATCA; Mergers, Acquisitions and Consolidations; Delivering differentiated value to clients; Strategic Leadership; and Leveraging IT Security.

The conference also received the support of regional and international sponsors who provide technological and professional services.

The CAB continues to support its members through advocacy, up to date training, growing member and partner networks and engagement at all levels in order to build a resilient financial services sector.

The increasingly popular CAB Conference and AGM will be held in St. Kitts and Nevis in November 2015.

Caribbean Association of Banks, Inc is a community of banks and other financial institutions in the Caribbean/CARICOM Region, which provides opportunities for discussion on issues impacting the regional banking/financial services community as well as for the sharing of experiences and networking. CAB provides effective advocacy to support members in achieving an efficient and effective operation of their respective institution.  It recommends and supports full compliance with the AML/CFT standards in order to protect all financial systems, within the region, from ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks and offers ongoing training and education for its members.

Contact:

Chris Girard

Project Officer
www.facebook.com/cabassoc,
www.twitter.com/cabassoc
www.linkedin.com/company/caribbean-association-of-banks
Email: chris.girard@cab‐inc.com
Tel (758) 452‐2877