Virgin Islands financial services officials used two major events in London last week to push Africa as a potential major growth market for the territory.
BVI Finance CEO Elise Donovan said the VI has a pivotal role to play in “enabling finance, digital transformation and inclusive development” throughout the continent.
Ms. Donovan spoke in the British capital at the 2025 East African Association Lecture and Conference on Oct. 13 and at the Investing in Africa 2025 Conference and Expo from Oct. 14 to 15.
“As global priorities shift toward sustainability and private sector-led growth, international financial centres like the BVI serve as essential enablers,” she said in a statement.
“We help bridge investment gaps by providing the certainty, structure and protections investors need to deploy capital responsibly and effectively.”
Ms. Donovan added that global financial hubs like the VI can be utilised to mobilise international private capital to drive sustainable development when traditional financial aid flows decline.
Using the two London conferences to pitch the territory as a “global connector,” BVI Finance emphasised that the beneficial owners of 44 percent of VI-registered companies originate from China, which is a key source of foreign direct investment in Africa.
Ms. Donovan added that the territory has a reputation for prudence and responsibility that could help attract emerging fintech business.
“International financial centres have a meaningful role to play in supporting cross-border expansion and providing the legal certainty fintechs need to scale,” she said.
‘Global by nature’
Appleby BVI managing director Jeffrey Kirk endorsed the overseas push. “Digital assets and DeFi platforms are global by nature: They’re not domestic products,” he said.
“Any founder wants their product and tokens to reach global markets, which is why cross-border expansion is essential.”
BVI Finance officials said the organisation is always exploring new business opportunities across the globe.
