Oman Motor Show

Cover Story

 Building a Future of Trust and Excellence: A Vision for BNF Bank

Categories: Cover Story, Insight

“As we stand within a rapidly evolving financial landscape, I am excited and determined to lead our Bank into a future that continues to build our reputation, deepens established trust among stakeholders, and propels us toward unparalleled heights of service excellence,” commented Mr David Power Chief Executive Officer at BNF Bank.

BNF Bank’s journey thus far has been marked by resilience, innovation, and a commitment to its clients, and it is upon this foundation that the team at BNF are committed to build the next chapter of the Bank’s success story.

Preserving and Upholding Trust
“Trust is the cornerstone of any successful financial institution, and we are fortunate to have earned the trust of our esteemed clients, partners, and communities over the years,” noted Mr Power. This trust has been forged through the Bank’s dedication to transparency, integrity, and putting customers’ interests first. “By consistently delivering on our promises and fostering open communication, we will further solidify our position as a bank that can be relied upon in both calm and turbulent times,” he continued.

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Kia Orana! Welcome to the Cook Islands

Categories: Cover Story

If you’re an intrepid European traveller who thinks they’ve ‘done it all’, the Cook Islands is guaranteed to reignite your passion for adventure.

As far away as you can get from Europe before you start coming back again, this South Pacific collection of 15 islands is a picture postcard paradise of white sand beaches, azure seas, verdant mountains and 13,000 kindly souls, the bulk of whom live on the main island, Rarotonga, which also acts as the hub for connections on to the other islands. And with direct flights from New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and Tahiti, paradise can be reached with just one stop along the way from several major European cities – which also opens up the prospect of two far flung vacations in one!

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Post-Brexit Mutual Free Movement is Becoming ‘Critical’

Categories: Briefing, Cover Story

It is becoming increasingly clear that the UK and the EU must strike a post-Brexit mutual free movement of people agreement if they are both to economically thrive over the next decade and beyond, affirms one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organisations.

This is the call-to-action assessment from James Green, deVere Group’s Investment Director, as Nigel Farage, one of the biggest, highest-profile advocates of Britain’s departure from the European Union, believes “Brexit has failed.”

It also follows British Home Secretary Suella Braverman addressing labour market shortages in industries such as horticulture in a speech this week, while many senior Conservatives now believe more immigration is needed to boost economic growth.

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Malta – A Lucrative Ecosystem For Startups

Categories: Cover Story, In Focus

Malta has recently launched a residency programme for highly innovative startup and scale up ventures. Non-EU founders who would like to use Malta as their launch pad for their new business, from its strategic location in Europe, now have a viable relocation opportunity, designed specifically for this purpose. CEO Insight spoke to Charles Mizzi, Chief Executive Officer of Residency Malta, the government agency which administers the Programme, to find out about what opportunities await entrepreneurs willing to move.  

CEO Insight:  What is the purpose behind launching the Malta Startup Residence Programme? What will it serve to add to Malta’s existing programme portfolio?

Charles Mizzi: This new Programme is intended to attract more highly innovative startup businesses to our shores, thereby adding to the country’s existing startup ecosystem while attracting skills and talent and boosting our local economy.  This 3+5-year residency programme is specifically designed for non-EU entrepreneurs with highly innovative startups with the aim is to facilitate the immigration process so that founders can fully focus on growing their business, rather than having the strain to renew their residency permits annually. We understand that the first three years are crucial for startups, and this programme helps founders to focus entirely on their operations from a comfortable location. As with all the programmes Residency Malta offers, we are after quality applicants who have viable business projects with disruptive products or services

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Malta Invites Non-EU Entrepreneurs to Start Up in Malta

Categories: Cover Story

Malta is inviting non-EU entrepreneurs to launch their new ventures, or scale up their existing ones, using Malta as their base. The new Malta Startup Residence Programme is intended for third country nationals who are willing to use Malta’s attractive and lucrative startup ecosystem for their highly innovative startup or scale-up venture.

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Global Investor

Categories: Caribbean, Cover Story, Insight

Interview with Charmaine Quinland-Donovan, CEO, CIU Antigua and Barbuda

CEO Insight: Why has citizenship investment become so important for global investors?

Charmaine Quinland-Donovan: Profit optimization, portfolio diversification, access to new markets and tapping into unique business opportunities are the outcomes global investors pursue.  The early development of the investment migration industry was driven by the need for investors, particularly from jurisdictions whose travel documents did not afford ease of travel, to have access to greater mobility.  However, as the industry has developed, all of the traditional investment imperatives are also operating as pull factors for many global investors.  As such, they are in pursuit of much more than mobility – they are in search of options, both for their commercial interests as well as their lifestyle.  Citizenship paves the way for real societal and economic integration: global investors understand, adopt to and transform the industries and economies in which they operate.  There is a duality of benefit as the host countries receive direct inward investment, augment skills and competencies and foster the growth of the many ancillary activities which accompany the increased economic activity.

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Durban = Double Digit Growth Opportunities

Categories: Cover Story, FDI

South Africa is the premium springboard into the African continent, offering a platform into one of the world’s last frontiers of double-digit growth opportunities.

So says Russell Curtis, CEO of Invest Durban. Here is a man with reason to be passionate about the metropolitan region he is tasked with attracting new investment into, alongside retaining and expanding that which is already there.

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