Following a number of legislative and regulatory enhancements, and with financial services activity in Jersey currently at record levels, senior industry representatives in the island are keen to highlight the many new business opportunities to legal and finance professionals based in the Far East.

The visit has been organised by Jersey Finance Limited, the joint venture Government/industry body that represents the finance industry in Jersey. They are hosting a presentation in each location to showcase the Island’s financial services capabilities.

The presentations are designed to illustrate how Jersey’s finance industry is relevant to intermediaries and their clients in the Asian region. Leading Industry representatives from Jersey will explore:

• How recent changes in Jersey can provide opportunities for finance professionals in Hong Kong and Singapore;
• Developments in private client services offered from Jersey including the use of trusts and the critical role of the judicial system;
• How domiciling a fund in Jersey can offer access to European markets;
• How Jersey has emerged as a specialist centre for capital markets and structured finance.

Phil Austin, Chief Executive of Jersey Finance, and one of the speakers, said: ‘Feedback from our Members identified the importance of the Far East to a growing number of businesses in Jersey and has prompted us to host a delegation to the two leading finance centres in the region. Although both Hong Kong and Singapore are competitor jurisdictions for some finance activity, we need also to explore the business opportunities that exist and ensure that the Island is better known in these locations.

Pierre Horsfall, CBE, Chairman of Jersey Finance, who prior to his retirement from public office was the Island’s senior politician, is hosting both events. He commented: ‘I think the delegates who attend the presentations will be surprised by the level of business that already exists between the region and the Island. We are keen to highlight the sophisticated nature of the business undertaken from Jersey and how our fiscal regime, the evolving legislative and regulatory armoury, the skills and knowledge of many experienced practitioners, and the Island’s location within the European time zone but outside the European Union, are a winning combination of strengths that can have wide appeal to Asian finance and legal professionals.’

Jersey Finance will also take the opportunity to build contacts during a short stop over in Shanghai, although there are no official presentations planned in China on this occasion.