FREDERIKSTED, USVI — The Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA) co-sponsored the 2022 SelectUSA Investment Summit with representatives from the VIEDA, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA), and the USVI/Taiwanese relations to attract foreign businesses in key targeted industries as identified in Vision 2040, including light manufacturing, renewable energy, professional services, and agribusiness from June 25 – June 29, 2022 in National Harbor, Maryland held by the US Department of Commerce.
The USVI delegation were among several US economic development organizations, international and domestic investors, senior government officials, and state and local government representatives participating in the first in-person summit, since the onset of COVID-19.
During the summit, the delegation promoted the USVI’s tax incentive program and the South Shore Trade Zone recently legislated in St Croix as benefits to doing business in the USVI.
The delegation included Tracy L. Bhola, general counsel, VIEDA; Margarita A. Benjamin, managing director, Economic Development Commission, VIEDA; Shanell Petersen, managing director, Marketing & 2040 Vision, VIEDA ; Kyle Thomas, program manager, Marketing and 2040 Vision, VIEDA; LaShanna McBean de Chabert, application analyst I, VIEDA; and Anise Hodge, deputy executive director, VIPA.
“As a major foreign direct investment conference, the VIEDA and its partners were committed to making a huge impact at the SelectUSA Investment Summit this year towards attracting foreign direct investment,” said Wayne L. Biggs Jr, USVIEDA chief executive officer. “These marketing missions are key in the creation of jobs for Virgin Islanders and diversification of the economy,” added chief executive officer, Biggs.
This year, the 2022 SelectUSA Investment Summit had 3,600 attendees from 70+ international markets and 51 states and territories, all gathering to take advantage of in-person networking and informative programming on key industry topics affecting the foreign direct investment community. Follow up with investment leads in the key industries include virtual one-on-one meetings and site visits in the territory throughout July.
“The Bryan-Roach administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. ”
