The Bahamas has been an independent nation since 1973 and is one of the oldest, most stable democracies in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 280 years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy. Conveniently located in the same time zone as New York and Miami, The Bahamas is an ideal location for investment and business operations looking for a hub to invest and operate in, and from, the Americas.
The Bahamas has experienced more than 80 years of financial services history, and today the sector directly and indirectly contributes up to 36% of GDP.
The Bahamas’ reputation as a financial center in great part is due to the comprehensive financial products offered by the institutions and advisors located here, coupled with their ability to provide the necessary service expertise. The sector’s innovation and flexibility is demonstrated by the ease of creating new products that can be customized for specific markets and clients such as the SMART Fund products, the Bahamas Executive Entity (BEE), and the Investment Condominium (ICON) to name a few.
The Bahamas also provides international clients a jurisdiction to mitigate global political risk in their wealth planning as evidenced by agreements reached with the United States of America on FATCA and other global regulatory issues.
For many reasons, The Bahamas is a preferred location for the ownership of intangible assets – and the operation of corporate offices and businesses involved in international trade as it offers:
A tax neutral platform – with no income, estate, inheritance or capital gains tax, and no restrictions on the repatriation of funds
No forced heirship laws for domiciled assets
Highest ranking nation for civil liberties and political rights by the World Bank
Home to approximately one third of the world’s top 100 banks – and easily accessible to international financing and global capital markets
