BVI Delegation Meets India's Finance Minister as
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has delivered a keynote address in New Delhi and met with India's Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, as the Territory begins its inaugural trade mission to India. The public-private delegation is positioning the Virgin Islands as a premier gateway for Indian enterprises seeking global expansion.
The Virgin Islands has officially launched its business outreach in India, with Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley delivering a keynote address in New Delhi and holding high-level talks with India’s Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman. According to the Premier's Office, the bilateral meeting with Sitharaman focused on strengthening economic cooperation between the two jurisdictions.
Sitharaman, who oversees India’s finance, taxation and economic policies, reiterated India’s openness to working closely with the Virgin Islands. Premier Wheatley and Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development Lorna Smith were joined in the meeting by BVI Hong Kong Office Director Dr.
Ricardo Wheatley and Associate Director Siobhan Flax. Following the discussions, Premier Wheatley presented Sitharaman with a map of the Virgin Islands and a collection of books by Territory authors. The New Delhi engagement marked the first of four major financial services roadshows planned for the August 24–31 trade mission.
Premier Wheatley positioned the Territory as an essential strategic partner for Indian firms expanding globally, following through on earlier statements that the Indian government "has offered us quite a bit" after nearly three years of preparatory diplomatic groundwork. The public-private mission features a broad cross-section of Government and industry leadership.
In addition to the Premier and Junior Minister Smith, the official party includes BVI Financial Services Commission CEO Kenneth Baker, International Affairs Secretariat Acting Director Dwynel Davis, Financial Services Director Ayana Glasgow, Acting Director of Communications Kareem Nelson-Hull, BVI Finance Marketing Director Rhondni Skelton, Private Secretary Xyrah Wheatley, and Hong Kong Office analysts Kyla Forbes and Ronn Grant, alongside several private-sector practitioners.
Following New Delhi, the delegation is traveling to GIFT City, Mumbai and Bengaluru for regulatory sessions, business-to-business networking, and an appearance at Money Expo India. The delegation aims to engage hundreds of C-suite executives, fund managers, family offices and fintech leaders.
Officials emphasize that the mission is designed to showcase BVI capabilities in corporate structuring, investment funds, private wealth management, and cross-border finance. For local residents and businesses, the outreach is intended to secure fresh capital, cultivate fintech partnerships, and diversify the Territory's international economic footprint.
The Government has stated it will provide detailed updates on formal agreements and concrete outcomes as the mission concludes.
Primary source: VINO