The global business sector is keen to continue working with Government and other partners to improve business facilitation in Barbados. Joanna Austin, president of BIBA, the Association for Global Business, said the issue was one which deserved “serious, continuous attention” because Barbados could not rely on its reputation alone.
“Business facilitation is not a call for weaker regulation. It is a call to ensure that sound regulation and effective administration work together,” the attorney said yesterday when the two-day Global Business Conference 2026 opened at Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort yesterday.
“For BIBA, this is an important area for continued engagement with Government regulators and stakeholders. The private sector has practical experience of the challenges that arise in the course of doing business.
“Public institutions have responsibilities that must be discharged in the national interest, and bringing these perspectives together can help identify workable solutions.
“The objective should be a business environment in which the requirements are clear, processes are proportionate, and responsibilities are understood, and decisions are made with appropriate efficiency,” she added.
Austin also said that “we must continually demonstrate the value of choosing Barbados”.
“Our history, our legal framework, professional expertise, political stability and our international relationships have helped establish our place in the global business community. These are significant assets and we should never take them for granted,” she said.
‘Expectations evolving’
“But the international marketplace does not stand still. Our other jurisdictions are investing in their capabilities, refining their offerings, and responding to the changing needs of global business. Client expectations are evolving. Regulatory requirements are becoming more demanding.
Technology is altering how services are delivered and how value is created.
“The question before us, therefore, is not simply whether Barbados remains an attractive jurisdiction today. It is whether we are making the decisions necessary to ensure that Barbados remains relevant, competitive, and trusted tomorrow,” Austin said.
One area she saw as requiring a sustained focus was Barbados’ reputation, including focusing on more than tax policy.
“The global minimum tax and the wider evolution of international tax rules are changing the considerations that influence investment structures and jurisdictional choices. For Barbados, it’s particularly important to understand how our value proposition is evolving,” Austin said.
“We must be clear about what we offer beyond any single tax consideration. Our professional services, legal certainty, expertise, international relationships, and capacity to support sophisticated business must remain central to our proposition, and we must also look at our competitiveness,” Austin said. (SC)