BVI Finance positions for more business in Africa

The BVI is reaffirming its position as a trusted global hub for cross-border investment and innovation, with a renewed focus on Africa’s rapidly expanding markets.

Recently, BVI Finance CEO Elise Donovan represented the territory at two major international events focused on Africa, where she highlighted the territory’s role in enabling finance, digital transformation, and sustainable economic growth across developing regions.

At the East African Association event, Donovan stressed that international financial centres (IFCs) like the BVI are crucial in mobilising private capital to drive sustainable development, particularly as traditional aid flows continue to decline.

Donovan also noted that the BVI continues to serve as a global connector for capital flows, with 44 percent of BVI company beneficial owners originating from China — a major driver of investment into Africa. Through these global linkages, the BVI acts as a conduit for capital and expertise between Asia, Africa, and other emerging markets.

At the AFSIC – Investing in Africa 2025 conference, BVI Finance participated as both sponsor and thought leader, strengthening engagement with policymakers, investors, and innovators shaping Africa’s economic future. Local experts engaged in discussions with representatives from leading global law firms servicing fintech and offshore finance sectors.

The BVI’s engagement with African stakeholders comes as its financial services sector faces mounting pressure from the United Kingdom, which continues to push for publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership. BVI officials have cautioned that making company ownership data public could drive clients away and harm the local financial services industry — the territory’s main economic pillar.

In response to the pressures, the BVI has been diversifying its outreach and exploring new markets and sectors, including fintech, digital finance, and emerging economies like Latin America and Africa. Through these initiatives, BVI Finance aims to sustain growth, attract new clients, and strengthen the territory’s reputation as a jurisdiction of choice for international business and sustainable investment.