CaribPR Wire

Felicai-J-Persaud-keynotes-Invest-TCI

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Sept 7, 2016: Caribbean leaders need to throw out the old play book, and think big – beyond the status quo.

That’s the word from Felicia J. Persaud, CEO and founder of Invest Caribbean Now (ICN), to delegates at the just concluded Invest Turks & Caicos ‘Enhancing National Competitiveness Conference.’

Delivering keynote remarks at the TCI event on the topic ‘Dimensions of Competitiveness in the 21st Century: A Global Perspective,’ Persaud said that the Caribbean region is being left behind while other developing regions are soaring ahead because the problems and challenges are being addressed with the same standard solutions.

“We need to throw out the old play book, and think big – beyond the status quo,” said Persaud. “We need to begin by re-imagining the Turks & Caicos and the Caribbean for the future.”

The ICN CEO recommended five keys which she said the region and the Turks & Caicos should be applying in this 21^st century to overcome serious growth challenges in the post-Brexit era in which the Caribbean and TCI now finds itself.

They include, according to Persaud, “thinking outside the proverbial box, telling our story, harnessing our natural assets and competing for our wallet share, harnessing the right human capital and enhancing collaborations and partnerships, growing the middle and focusing on technology and energy efficiency.”

She also urged the TCI to look seriously into the medical business “of that herb many love to hate and see it as an economic engine of growth as Puerto Rico is working on doing along with Jamaica.”

The legal marijuana market in the US is predicted to rise from US 6 point seven billion dollars this year to US 21 point 8 billion by 2020 and some countries like the Netherlands have begun to export medical marijuana to countries like Canada, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic,” said Persaud.

“So ask yourselves – why should they be making all the money from a herb that emerged in our region?,” she stated. “We as Caribbean leaders must create a new direction for our people in order to meet the economic challenges of our time. To restore growth to our countries and region and opportunity to our people, to empower our people so they can take responsibility for their own lives – so we as one Caribbean can also take our place in the world as an economic giant like India and our Latin American brothers and sisters.”

And she added: “Let us combine out visions and our energies so we can see a little further down the road and around the corner. So we can use that vision to challenge the status quo and most of all – use that vision to innovate with outside the box strategies so we can grow, expand and excel… in this country and as One Caribbean region!”

The day-long event also featured Anya Williams, Deputy Governor of the Islands; Washington Misick, Minister of Finance, Investment & Trade of the TCI; Mark Durliat, CEO Grace Bay Resorts and John Williams, Director General, Telecommunications Commission Turks and Caicos Islands.

ABOUT ICN

Invest Caribbean Now was launched five years ago in collaboration at the time with the Caribbean Tourism Organization to serve as a conduit between funders and governments and private sector developers in the tourism field.

It began with an annual investment forum that featured investment bankers, private equity investors, ministers of governments, hotel developers, tourism officials, architects, real estate developers, financial advisers, entrepreneurs, Chinese government officials and investors as well as the media in a giant match making event that put the spotlight on investment opportunities in several Caribbean nations including Bermuda, the Turks & Caicos Islands, St. Martin and Trinidad & Tobago.

Based on its effectiveness in bringing people together to do business and its network of high net worth lenders and programs, ICN, owned by Hard Beat Communications, expanded it focus in 2015 to become the private sector investment agency of the Caribbean, focusing now year round on matching projects with funders and funding.

Construction projects like resort and hotel construction, villa and mixed use developments and multi-family properties are welcome as well as major infrastructure development, energy and mining projects. Additionally, debt funding is available for refinancing, purchase or bridge loans of between USD$1 to $100 million.

Meanwhile, small to medium-sized Caribbean American and Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S. and Canada who have been in existence for one year and have earnings of USD100, 000 can also contact ICN for access to SBE loans of up to USD250, 000 for expansion.

For more information see investcaribbeannow.com.

The full speech can be seen here.

###

SOURCE: Invest Caribbean Now

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kathy Bronson

Communications Coordinator

Invest Caribbean Now

[email protected]

718-476-3616

Part of the audience at ICN 2015. (ICN image)

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. June 1, 2016: This National Caribbean-American Heritage Month (NCAHM), Invest Caribbean Now (ICN), the private sector investment agency of the Caribbean, is celebrating the 110^th anniversary of NCAHM by putting the spotlight on economic investments in the Caribbean region and the U.S. and Canadian Caribbean Diasporas.

ICN is currently offering qualified developers with major Caribbean-focused projects in the real estate, infrastructure development, mining and energy sectors, an opportunity to pitch their projects to company executives.

Developers who meet the company’s criteria will be able to access a variety of financing options – both debt and equity – for projects valued at between USD 5 million and up to USD300 million through the ICN network. Construction projects like resort and hotel construction, villa and mixed use developments and multi-family properties are welcome as well as major infrastructure development, energy and mining projects. Additionally, debt funding is available for refinancing, purchase or bridge loans of between USD$1 to $100 million.

For an appointment, submit completed executive summary of project that includes bios of company executives, financial overview and projects and contact details to Ana Gonzalez at [email protected]. Appointments will be confirmed directly with developer based on preliminary company and project evaluation and interest.

Meanwhile, small to medium-sized Caribbean American and Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S. and Canada who have been in existence for one year and have earnings of USD100, 000 can also contact ICN for access to SBE loans of up to USD250, 000 for expansion.

For more information see investcaribbeannow.com.

ABOUT INVEST CARIBBEAN NOW

Invest Caribbean Now was launched five years ago in collaboration at the time with the Caribbean Tourism Organization to serve as a conduit between funders and governments and private sector developers in the tourism field.

It  began with an annual investment forum that featured investment bankers, private equity investors, ministers of governments, hotel developers, tourism officials, architects, real estate developers, financial advisers, entrepreneurs, Chinese government officials and investors as well as the media in a giant match making event that put the spotlight on investment opportunities in several Caribbean nations including Bermuda, the Turks & Caicos Islands, St. Martin and Trinidad & Tobago. Based on its effectiveness in bringing people together to do business and its network of high net worth lenders and programs, ICN, owned by Hard Beat Communications, expanded it focus in 2015 to become the private sector investment agency of the Caribbean, focusing now year round on matching projects with funders and funding. ICN is the brainchild of Caribbean-born entrepreneur Felicia J. Persaud and is based in America’s financial capital of the world, New York City.

###

SOURCE: Invest Caribbean Now

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kathy Bronson

Communications Coordinator

Invest Caribbean Now

[email protected]

718-476-3616

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.

###

SOURCE: Invest Caribbean Now

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kathy Bronson

Communications Coordinator

Invest Caribbean Now

[email protected]

718-476-3616

Part of the audience at ICN 2015. (ICN image)

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Oct. 30, 2015:  Access to capital is critical to the growth of small businesses, whether in the Caribbean/Latin America US Diaspora or Canada and often many have nowhere to turn.

But true to its goal of wealth building for the region and its Diasporas, Invest Caribbean Now, the global private sector Caribbean investment agency, has teamed with several US-based organizations to expand capital access to small to medium Caribbean and Hispanic-owned enterprises in the US and Canadians Diaspora.

ICN is partnering with two top organizations to offer cash advances to existing micro-enterprises as well as low interest loans and lines of credit of between US$5,000 to $250,000 to small to medium-sized businesses.

“We are thrilled to fulfil phase one of our 2014 goal of helping to provide access to capital for Caribbean and Hispanic-owned Diaspora Enterprises,” said ICN founder Felicia J. Persaud. “Partnerships are key to our success and we continue to build this with this new service. Now it gives me hope that one day we will also be able to do this for SME’s across the Caribbean region.”

To learn more log on now to investcaribbeannow.com or contact us here or via http://www.investcaribbeannow.com/contact.html

ABOUT INVEST CARIBBEAN NOW

Invest Caribbean Now (ICN) is the definitive private sector investment agency of the Caribbean. It is based in America’s financial capital of the world, New York City. Now in its fifth year, ICN is the brainchild of Caribbean-born media entrepreneur, Felicia J. Persaud and is owned by Hard Beat Communications, Inc.

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 and connects small entrepreneurs in the Diaspora with SME loans and cash advances.

###

SOURCE: Invest Caribbean Now

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kathy Bronson

Communications Coordinator

Invest Caribbean Now

[email protected]

718-476-3616

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. April 21, 2014: “Caribbean leaders should encourage, embrace and affirm the flow of capital that is positive, sustainable and healthy for the region.”

That’s the advice of Antigua-born scholar, Dr. Isaac Newton, as he gears up to deliver the keynote address to delegates at Invest Caribbean Now 2014, (ICN), the biggest global investment summit on the Caribbean outside of the region, set for the Harvard Club in New York City from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. this June 4, 2014.

Dr. Newton in a preview of his speech at ICN, said regional leaders must create the right mix of incentives to attract both globally reputable and Diaspora investors.

“This should be done within a strategic road-map for regional advancement,” said the graduate of  Princeton Theological Seminary and Columbia and Harvard universities, while adding that investors – current and future to the Caribbean – must become socially conscious and strive to actively participate in what he called the ‘community enhancement agenda.’

“Such mutually rewarding behaviours enhance brand recognition and engender wider appeal – in the Caribbean and around the world – for their products/services and make the Caribbean a happier place for all,” said the Paramount Communications executive. Dr. Newton also encourages businesses and government leaders to capitalize on the serious global challenges facing the Caribbean, as these relate to the impact of investments on the socio-economic improvement of the wider population.

This year’s fourth Invest Caribbean Now summit will feature numerous global professional investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders including Hollywood Actor Malik Yoba; chairman of the billion-dollar, privately-owned Jamaican-based empire, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart; Sergio Millian, President of the Russian American Chamber of Commerce; Colin Childress, CEO/Founder, Global MedChoices, Turks & Caicos; Paul Angelchik, M.D., Founder and CEO, American World Clinic – Barbados; Anthony A. L. Adjasse of the Allied African Nations Chamber Of Commerce; Hollywood actor Malik Yoba, Hollywood fashion designer, Woody Wilson; Qahir Dhanani, private sector development specialist of the World Bank Group; Leigh Moran, manager, International Diaspora Engagement Alliance” or “IdEA,” a partnership of the US State Department and USAID; Brian Lilly, founder of One Caribbean Television and CEO of Lilly Broadcasting and executives from Sun Group Russia, Tia Properties, LLC, American CryoStem Corporation, Lugano Group, Damoola, Merrill Lynch, Nomura, Aegis Capital, Island Global Yachting, Blocadi Capital, K&L Gates, True Value Building & Hardware Ltd & Emerald Vista and Sir Richard Branson’s Carbon War Room.
Also in attendance will be Caribbean government ministers and dignitaries from across the region including Premier of Nevis, Vance Amory; Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications, Trinidad & Tobago Vasant Bharath; Minister of Agriculture of Barbados, Dr.  David Estwick; Minister of Tourism & International Transport of St. Kitts, Ricky Skerritt; Jamaica’s Ambassador to the UN, Courtney Rattray; several CARICOM consuls general to New York and the Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Hugh Riley.

Multiple Award Emmy winning TV Anchor, Ernie Anastos, will emcee the Summit while One Caribbean Television weatherman, Joey Stevens, and his famous side-kick, Bob, will wrap up the event by hosting the ICN Awards Reception, set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Limited early bird tickets and table of 10 are available through April 30^th by booking here or at investcaribbeannow.com/earlybird while some partnership sponsorship and advertising opportunities for this event are still available by contacting [email protected] or [email protected] or by logging on to ICN’s summit page at Investcaribbeannow.com.
Persons looking to do business with the top Chinese, Caribbean and Russian delegates can ask about one of ten Diamond Room tickets from Joe Bernstein at [email protected].

ICN PARTNERS

Presenters for ICN 2014 are: Hard Beat Communications, The Caribbean Tourism Organization, One Caribbean Television, The Woody Wilson Collection of Beverly Hills, The PR Newswire, the Caribbean Commerce Magazine, Blinglets, The Caribbean Council for Economic Development, the Chinese Business Development Center, Woody Wilson Fine Clothing, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, the Jamaica Observer, CaribSeek, WINN-FM and GCaribbean Magazine.

Follow The Summit |Twitter | Facebook

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kathy Bronson

Communications Coordinator

Invest Caribbean Now

[email protected]

Anthony Eterno, U.S. State Department, Office of Caribbean Affairs, Western Hemisphere and Xiaoguang Liu, consul in charge of economic & commercial affairs of the Consulate General of China in New York are among the ICN 2013 speakers.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. May 31, 2013: Investment in the Caribbean region is bringing together a unique coalition for Caribbean American Heritage Month this June, as the United States, China and the Caribbean unite for Invest Caribbean Now 2013.

The sold out Forum on June 5th at the Radisson Martinique Hotel in New York City, comes on the heels of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s Caribbean trip on May 28^th for the signing of the United States – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, (TIFA) and the first visit to Trinidad & Tobago by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, which will take place from May 31 to June 2.

Xiaoguang Liu, consul in charge of economic & commercial affairs at the Consulate of China in New York will headline a panel on China’s growing interests in the Caribbean. Other panelists will include Jianxin Lin, chairman of the American Chinese Commerce Development Association, (ACCDA); and Li Li, managing director of the Chinese American Business Development Center, (CABDC). The Sino-American Friendship Association (SAFA) will present the panel, which will be supported by ACCDA and the CABDC and moderated by Martin Mohabeer, managing director of Spackman Group, a Hong-Kong based venture capital firm.

As well, Anthony Eterno, of the Office of Caribbean Affairs in the Western Hemisphere Division in the U.S. State Department, will discuss key issues regarding American investment in the Caribbean Additionally, US-based; Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd will discuss its investments in the Caribbean region before an audience that will include over a dozen Caribbean premiers and ministers of government.

In 2012, U.S. imports from Caribbean countries under the Caribbean Basin Initiative totalled more than $11 billion, representing a 178 percent increase over the past decade. U.S. exports equalled nearly $12 billion, representing a 133 percent increase over the past decade.

In 2011, China announced it would lend $6.3 billion to Caribbean governments, adding considerably to the hundreds of millions of dollars in loans, grants and other forms of economic assistance it has already channelled in the past decade.

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.

Speakers and panellists confirmed for ICN 2013 are:

Anthony Eterno, U.S. State Department, Office of Caribbean Affairs, Western Hemisphere;

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, chairman of the 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.

Other government attendees will include:

Premier Dr. Orlando Smith of the British Virgin Islands;

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

Chief Minister Hubert Hughes of 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;

John Maginley, tourism minister of Antigua & Barbuda;

Damion Crawford, minister of state, Jamaica;

Maryse Noel of Haiti

and 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.

2013 media partners include 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.

For more, log on to InvestCaribbeanNow.com.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. May 13, 2013: The Obama administration is sending a representative to Invest Caribbean Now this June, as the Caribbean Diaspora in the U.S. gears up for Caribbean American Heritage Month and Caribbean Week in New York.

Anthony Eterno, of the U.S. State Department’s Office of Caribbean Affairs, Western Hemisphere division, will attend the June 5^th forum in New York City and speak on the US’ views on trade and investment in the Caribbean.

Eterno is a 15-year veteran diplomat with the Department who has worked in the Caribbean for close to two years and whose expertise includes economic affairs.

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. This year it is being presented by marquee sponsor, Avalon Partners in conjunction with The Turks & Caicos Islands Investment Agency and One Caribbean Television.

This year the event is set for the Radisson Martinique hotel in New York City from 7:30- to 11:30 a.m. and will be preceded by an invitation only reception at The Yale Club on June 4^th.

Other speakers will include Alan Lowenstein of Wedgewood Investment Group; Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Dr. Rufus Ewing; Finance Minister of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Washington Misick and panellists on Development Tourism as well as on China and the Caribbean.

Government attendees will include Governor of the US Virgin Islands, John Percy de Jongh, Jr; Chief Minister of Anguilla, Hubert Hughes; Chairman of the CTO and Commissioner of Tourism For the USVI, Beverly Nicholson Doty; Minister of Tourism & International Transport, International Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs St. Kitts, Ricky Skerritt; Lorne Theophilus, Minister for Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries, St. Lucia; Stephen Cadiz, Minister of Tourism, Trinidad &  Tobago; Orville London, Sec. of the House of Assembly, Tobago; Assemblyman Tracy Davidson-Celestine, Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary, Division of Tourism and Transportation – Tobago and Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Hugh Riley. Private sector reps will come from JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, Nomura, CIBC World Capital, Ibis Investments, Aegis Capital, Portfolio Credit Management Limited, DHL, Marriott International, Spackman Capital, the Lugano Group, Damoola, One Caribbean Television, Avalon Partners, Digicel, TCI and Scotiabank TCI.

Only a few tickets at $185 each are still available for the June 5th forum 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