Economic challenges mulled at business conference

As he laid out the political, economic and social trends likely to affect the Virgin Islands in the coming year, BVI Business Outlook conference organiser Russell Harrigan said that some trends “create opportunities” while others “create stress.”

Speaking to an audience of more than 160 business and government leaders gathered at Scrub Island Resort yesterday, Mr. Harrigan said possible trends include another global economic recession, falling oil prices, and continued growth in the United States.

“They are our major trading partner, especially in terms of tourism, and we hope that some of that feeling good translates as it did over the holiday into tourism, and beyond that,” he said.

Mr. Harrigan, who is also the chairman of the BVI Tourist Board and the publisher of this newspaper, said that the fifth edition of the annual conference aims to highlight emerging competitive threats to the territory’s core industries and identify opportunities for growth.

See the Jan. 15, 2015 edition for full coverage.

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