Smith encouraged by strong relationships built in Mumbai
Smith.
Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development Lorna Smith has expressed optimism about the relationships established during the Virgin Islands delegation’s visit to Mumbai as part of its inaugural financial services trade mission to India.
“Mumbai was another incredibly productive stop on our inaugural Financial Services Trade Mission to India,” Smith stated this week.
The delegation held meetings with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the National Stock Exchange of India, the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India.
Smith said the discussions provided opportunities to strengthen institutional relationships, examine possible cooperation and identify new areas for trade and investment.
“A key highlight for me was the diversity of industries represented at the EU Chamber from film and movie production to pharmaceuticals to legal practitioners, demonstrating the significant potential for partnership and growth,” Smith stated.
The delegation also staged the Mumbai Roadshow, where Smith engaged with nearly 300 participants. More than 15 Virgin Islands brands and financial services practitioners presented the territory’s products and services.
Smith later delivered a keynote address at Money Expo India 2026, held at the Jio World Convention Centre from August 29 to 30.
The Premier’s Office described the event as India’s largest trading, investment and financial technology expo. It said the event attracted more than 15,000 attendees, over 3,000 investors, at least 120 exhibitors and more than 100 speakers.
Smith’s address focused on how the Virgin Islands could support India’s expanding financial ecosystem through its financial services platform.
“I am encouraged by the strong relationships established in Mumbai and look forward to building on these connections in the months ahead,” Smith stated.
The Mumbai engagements were part of an eight-day mission which included visits to New Delhi, GIFT City and Bengaluru. The delegation held regulatory discussions, industry meetings and business-to-business engagements while promoting the territory’s corporate structuring, investment funds, private wealth, financial technology and cross-border business services.
The mission followed a year-long outreach programme conducted in India during 2025 through the BVI Government Representative Office in Hong Kong.
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Anyone for a curry?
My thing is, the same focus we putting into the International Space, we need to be investing into our Regional Relationships! look all now we cant get a crop of Product from a DR!
You couldn’t pay me to visit India or maybe pay a lot. One of the worst bigoted society you will ever see and all of them look alike. How do you do business with people who believe in a CASTE SYSTEM? Overall it is just a filthy place pollution air quality. Regular people just defecate on the road in broad daylight and keep it moving.
Ignorant comment, adds no value to the article in question.
Very racist set of people are those Indians. Stop wasting our tax dollars on useless, senseless travels…
Racism and bigotry exists all over, even in the BVI.
Ok … and the results of the trip for our country, were ……?
Saw a lot of gifts you were given on your LinkedIn page. Nice! I guess you don’t need to report those things?
Snow White and her VIP stooges
Trips and perks………..Old sell out
Same s**t they said years ago when a set of them went to Guyana. We ain get not even a small bowl of pepper pot or curry powder since.
Hopew those strong relationships forged on all expense business class travel to Mumbai are worth it.
Right here right now we’re on an island where it’s acceptable to have a whole day with no working ambulance…
Oh well, at least the hospital has a big new sign so that people can see where they need to walk to when that medical emergency hits
India is the worst country to do business with, just ask the Chinese and besides being bad for business it is the most racist and unclean country in the world. The BVI would be much better off not dealing with them.
Ignorant comment.
@jeff…It’s a true comment… Indians are very racist people..
Politicians lie and say anything, they just place words together that sound good like a rapper.
How is the relationship ‘Strong’ when it’s also ‘Inaugural’??? When was there time for the relationship, which hasnt staryed yet, to become strong if it’s just starting? Has it been tested yet? No. Has it produced yet? No. But you come back here and sell us a bridge in brooklyn.
As far as India, great. They are a growing economy and their service oriented economic model I think is a good one for us. There has been a long relationship between the Caribbean and India, we can help each other advance. But dont sell me on strong relationships, tell me there is great potential. That would be honest but politicians can’t be honest and arw trying to get back in office and their cronies will n lindly echo their talking points. But I am no crony just a thinking citizen.
India, do they export money or do they import money? I do not think it is the former. The BVI on the other hand…a joke!
Ain’t nobody checking for India. This is a one sided relationship. They have more to gain from the B.V.I Honestly this smells like another play to make a few more million dollars disappear.
Don’t forget that India is over populated and looking for places to dump their people. Just look at England and Toronto Canada. They have out numbered the white Britoners in many counties in England and they have also taken over Toronto Canada. Soon they will be here by the droves more than the Philippinos They are not nice people. Very, very racist much. BVI please be careful.
They work in those countries, something the local white european population(if they even can maintain proper birth rate) won’t do or can’t do.