Thestkittsnevisobserver 22-08-2018
 
Dominica ranked No.1 followed by St. Kitts and Nevis, in a special report and CBI Index released by Professional Wealth Management (PWM) a Financial Times publication, ranking the world’s active citizenship by investment (CBI) programs.
 
The special report notes that the expanding industry attracts more investors seeking greater mobility and business opportunities, often prompted by shifting global economic and political tensions.
 
The CBI Index measures seven areas, or pillars: Due Diligence, Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Ease of Processing, Citizenship Timeline, and Mandatory Travel or Residence.
The report ranks 13 top contenders:
1. Dominica, 90%
2. St. Kitts and Nevis, 85%
3. Grenada, 81%
4. Antigua and Barbuda, 80%
5. St. Lucia, 79%
6. Vanuatu, 78%
7. Cyprus, 66%
8. Malta, 63%
9. Turkey, Bulgaria, 61%
11. Jordan and Austria, 54%
13. Cambodia, 53%


Note: Two programs No. 9 and 11 are tied.
Echoing the 2017 CBI Index results, Dominica remains the world’s best economic citizenship jurisdiction due to maintained high levels of timeliness and simplicity in process, an affordable investment threshold, and a robust due diligence framework.
 
This result is a testament to the small Caribbean nation’s CBI program successfully withstanding the challenges presented by last year’s hurricane season. Moreover, their latest Styrofoam and plastic ban initiative announcement earned Dominica widespread international accolades for being a responsible part of a Global Community – the exact mindset that guides the country’s leading CBI program.
 
Dominica further serves as a commendable example of how CBI funds can be used to improve the lives of its citizens, such as the recently announced construction of 5,000 new homes, financed entirely by the CBI program.
 
No. 2 St. Kitts and Nevis
Ranked second in the 2018 CBI Index, the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis improved its performance in the areas of Minimum Investment Outlay (affordability) and Freedom of Movement. The latter is an asset the country invests in continuously, as St Kitts and Nevis passport holders can travel visa-free to over 150 countries and territories. The Federation’s program adopted a lower investment threshold with the inception of the highly popular temporary Hurricane Relief Fund option. It continues to offer what is considered by many the Platinum Standard in the industry with the Sustainable Growth Fund – a new government funding method intended to assist in developing social and economic initiatives in St Kitts and Nevis.
 
Of all 13 CBI jurisdictions worldwide, Dominica spearheads the industry, scoring perfect marks in five of the seven pillars against which each program is evaluated. Four fellow Caribbean nations follow shortly, with CBI pioneer St Kitts and Nevis as a strong contender. The programs assessed in this year’s CBI Index include those offered by Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cyprus, Dominica, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Turkey, and Vanuatu.
 
PWM notes that more investors worldwide – especially from China, Russia, and, increasingly, the Middle East and Africa – are attracted to the notion of obtaining dual nationality. This trend is predicted to grow among global families affected by socio-political instability in their home countries, or international businesspersons seeking expanded visa-free travel and business opportunities.
 
James McKay, Independent researcher and architect of the CBI Index, considers these the most critical elements of an investor’s decision-making process when choosing their second citizenship. McKay explains the relevance of the study for the investor immigration industry:
 
“The CBI Index is rapidly becoming the leading tool for investors to accurately measure the performance and appeal of global citizenship by investment programs.”
Across the special report, emphasis is placed on due diligence – the security and vetting procedures involved in each CBI program which ensure that morally questionable characters are excluded.
 
The 2018 CBI Index highlights the due diligence process as a key component in differentiating the programs. Heyrick Bond Gunning, CEO of due diligence experts S-RM, concludes that it “should be a staple of all CBI programs that aspire to success and durability.”
 
Post-Brexit debates have raised awareness of the value of one’s citizenship and the certainty – or lack thereof – that it may hold. “Freedom of movement is becoming a key factor as immigration policies are getting more restrictive,” confirms Selby du Pasquier, head of Geneva lawyers Lenz & Staehelin.
 
The CBI Index is a comprehensive study into jurisdictions that offer citizenship by investment. The ranking system is designed to measure the performance and appeal of all active, government legislated, citizenship by investment programs by using seven key indicators. Its purpose is to provide a rigorous and systematic mechanism for assessing citizenship programs, and to facilitate the decision-making process for individuals considering them. The CBI Index is an independent special annual report, first published in 2017 by Professional Wealth Management – a publication from the Financial Times.