安提瓜和巴布达外交部长世贸通见面会演讲实录

      世贸通独家报道：2015年12月4日，备受期待的安提瓜和巴布达外交部长Honourable Charles Henry Fernandez、安提瓜和巴布达驻阿联酋大使Mr. Ernell Casroy James和凯莱潞琦项目董事Mr. Nitin Singhal一行，联合世贸通的中国首次推介会，在北京隆重召开，并取得圆满成功。会上，安提瓜和巴布达外交部长就推介项目——凯莱潞琦豪华度假村项目发表精彩演讲，全文实录如下：

　　Ladies and Gentlemen Good morning

　　Please allow me to start by extending a special thank you to conference organizer of Worldly Group. We are very grateful to them for making this event possible for a small micro economy like ours to showcase the Callaloo Cay project in particular and our beautiful island - by extension.

　　Antigua was first discovered by Europeans because of its strategic location on the Trade Wind route from Europe.Today it remains a key destination for tourists attracted by its stunning physical attributes and proximity to key markets in Europe and North America. Tourism is the main driver of the economy, generating in excess of 90% of our foreign exchange and 80% of the commercial activity. Antigua is the air transport hub of the Eastern Caribbean, with direct connections to the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, Canada and United States of America. To ensure we maintain our position as the sub-regional hub, a new state of the art fully equipped US$150M airport facility was opened in August of this year.

　　Our country is a stable ‘Westminster’ style democracy with a well-established legal and regulatory framework, supporting civil and commercial relationships, a highly educated work force with skills and abilities for a modern economy.

　　Antigua and Barbuda is an active and committed member of the International community, with membership in:

　　• United Nations,• OAS (Organization of American States)• Commonwealth• WTO

　　Since coming into office on June 12th 2014 our Prime Minister, the Honourable Gaston Browne, has challenged those within the Diplomatic Core, members of the public & private sectors and particularly each member of his Cabinet to realize the vision of transforming Antigua and Barbuda into an “Economic Powerhouse”. Our small island is comprised of ordinary people who have been known to accomplish extra-ordinary feats in the region and on the world stage - in politics, sports and track and field.

　　We are firmly of the view that attaining the Vision as set forth by the Hon. Prime Minister will be the next major achievement by the people of Antigua and Barbuda.

　　There are seven (7) identified pillars on which the transformational process will be based over the next 5 to 10 years, they are as follows.

　　1. Sound Fiscal & Debt Management – The goal is to bring our debt levels to well within prudential benchmark of 60% of Gross Domestic Product over the next 5 years.

　　2. Aggressive yet sustainable Economic Expansion through increased Foreign Direct Investments and Job creation.

　　3. Crime Management and Improved national Security for the populace.

　　4. Enhanced Energy efficiency with a gradual migration to Renewable and Sustainable energy to be able to generate 20% of our consumption levels within the next 5 years.

　　5. Developing our Human Resource Capacity to include one tertiary level graduate in every household over the next five to ten years

　　6. Promoting the Development of the Sister island of Barbuda – Barbuda is currently the recipient of one of the largest investments to date since the new administration took office. The referred Investment is a $250 million dollar high end resort development by Paradise found a company owned by Film Star Mr. Robert Di Nero and business man James Packer of Australia.

　　7. Sports and Culture – The Government is focused on providing the support mechanism to groom our young and talented sports figures to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda has a cadre of athletes represented at the highest levels including the Olympic events. Antigua has never medaled at the Olympics. This is another feat that we hope to accomplish over the next 5 to 10 years.

　　Each identified pillar would require a separate session for discussion and full analysis, which is not the intention of this exercise. The reason for highlighting these seven initiatives is to show the context within which the Vision of the “Economic Powerhouse” will be systematically attained. It is important to note that Visions require funding.

　　The Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) is one such funding mechanism for the Government and People of Antigua and Barbuda. Our government intends to maximize on the opportunities presented by the CIP to attain this Vision and significantly improve the lives of the ordinary citizens. It is the intention of the government to manage this program with the utmost care and responsibility; with emphasis on adopting industry best practice governance and operating structures. We recognize that sustainability and long-term viability of the Programme is quintessential to accomplishing these extraordinary milestones.

　　By way of background, the 2008 global financial crisis presented grave challenges for many nations including Antigua and Barbuda. The country was faced with a contracting economy, shrinking revenues, and global credit crunch among other factors. Despite the global challenges the Government had to meet continuing expectations of our citizens for support, services and economic growth. The Government understood the need for public investment programs to support economic development. The Citizenship by Investment Programme was one such initiative considered - to achieve these investment goals.

　　The Programme provides three investment options.

　　• A contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF),

　　• Purchase of real estate in an approved project - such as the Callaloo Cay Resort, or

　　• Investment in an approved business.

　　Ambassador Casroy James, will share more details on the real estate option related to the Callaloo Cay Resort.

　　I wish to welcome you to visit the twin island state of Antigua and Barbuda and experience for yourself why we are referred to as the “Gem of the Caribbean”. Come enjoy our 365 beaches, warm hospitality, historical sites, world class cuisine and famous festivals and events.

　　I further assure you that Antigua and Barbuda is open for business and extremely serious about maintaining our important relationships with our international partners including the UK, Canada, USA and the Schengen members. We are committed to keeping your interest and concerns central as we administer the Programme and seek to develop our economy.

　　Firstly, Mobility: Antigua and Barbuda has visa free access to over one hundred and thirty countries, and we are presently working through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to increase that number to make our Passport an even higher Premium Travel Document.

　　We are the number one CIP program in the Caribbean and we intent to ensure that the Antigua and Barbuda product will be the Premium Brand not just regionally - but also internationally.

　　Secondly, Sustainability: As was alluded to before, this program is important to Antigua and Barbuda.

　　It provides us with much needed revenue to assist with Health Care; Education; Security; and Infrastructure projects.

　　It has also stimulated tremendous investment projects which will result in thousands of jobs.

　　Therefore my Government - The Government of Antigua - is committed to work with all stakeholders to ensure the continued viability and sustainability of this important Citizen By Investment programme.

　　Finally, again i would like to affirm my Government’s Commitment in this Calalloo Cay Resort joint partnership of which the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has a twenty (20%) percent equity stake. We realize that His Excellency Shaikh Tarik Bin Faisal Al Qassemi has many other locations to invest. However, we are - after careful due diligence - certain that His Excellency is in a position to deliver on the proposed high end development and we therefore committed a 20% stake and a plethora of concessions to ensure its future viability.

　　Thank you!

　　译文如下：

　　女士们、先生们，大家早上好!

　　首先我要特别感谢大会组织方世贸通集团。感谢你们让我们这样小型经济体国家有机会展示自己美丽的岛国并带来这次的凯莱潞琦豪华度假村项目。

　　安提瓜因其在欧洲贸易路线的战略地位而首次被欧洲人发现。时至今日，安提瓜凭借其秀丽的风光以及靠近欧洲和北美主要市场的独特地位继续成为旅游人士的主要目的地。旅游业是安提瓜经济增长的主要推动力，超过90%的外汇和80%的商业活动来自于旅游业。作为东加勒比海地区的航空运输中心，安提瓜可以直飞英国、欧洲大陆、加拿大和美国。为了维持我们次区域中心的地位，一座世界一流、造价1.5亿美元的全新机场已于今年八月全面开放。

　　我国是政权稳定的“英式”民主制国家，法律和监管框架体系相当规范，给民商事关系提供了强有力的保障。我国国民普遍接受过高等教育且具备建设现代经济的技能和能力。

　　安提瓜和巴布达积极投入于国际社会关系中，并成为下列组织的成员国：

　　• 联合国;• 美洲国家组织;• 英联邦;• 国际贸易组织。

　　我们尊敬的总理Gaston Browne先生自2014年6月12日上任以来，就一直积极推动外事办核心成员以及公私各部门人员的工作，包括其内阁中每一名官员，旨在实现把安提瓜和巴布达改造成“经济发动机”的愿景。我们岛国虽小，人民也普通，但在地区乃至世界的政治、田径体育舞台上创造了诸多不凡事迹。

　　我们坚信安提瓜和巴布达人民的下一个壮举必然是完成总理先生制定的美好愿景。

　　未来的五到十年里，我国实现转变将基于以下七大要点：

　　第一、稳健的财政和负债管理——未来五年的目标是将负债水平控制在谨慎标准内，即不超过国内生产总值的60%。

　　第二、通过增加外国直接投资和创造就业达到积极且可持续的经济增长。

　　第三、控制犯罪率、完善国家安全体系。

　　第四、通过逐渐回归可再生和可持续的能源使用来提升能源利用率，未来五年达到国内能源消耗的20%来自高效能源。

　　第五、加强人才培训，未来五到十年保证每家每户拥有一个大学毕业生。

　　第六、推动姊妹岛巴布达的开发——自新政府班子上任以来，巴布达岛是获得外资投资最多的岛屿之一。电影明星Robert Di Nero和澳大利亚商人James Parker共同拥有的公司Paradise在岛上投资了2.5亿美元建造豪华度假村。

　　第七、运动和文化——政府致力于培养年轻体育人才，确保安提瓜和巴布达的运动员们能够在世界级较高水平的舞台上竞争，比如奥林匹克运动会。安提瓜目前尚未在奥运会上获得过任何奖牌。这将是我国未来五到十年想要达到的另一伟大成就。

　　以上每一个要点其实都需要独立的讨论和全面的研究，不是本次大会涵盖的内容。我之所以表明这七点是想和大家分享安提瓜将逐步系统地实现“经济发动机”这一宏愿的背景。重点是：宏愿的实现需要资金来支持。

　　公民投资入籍计划就是向安提瓜和巴布达政府及人民提供资金的途径之一。我们政府将会充分利用入籍计划提供的资金实现宏愿并全面改善普通公民的生活水平。当然，政府会非常小心且负责任地执行这项计划，同时采用行业最佳监管机制和操作架构。我们认为这项计划的可持续性和长久有效性是到达我们经济建设成功的重要基石。

　　说到背景，不得不提2008年全球金融危机使得安提瓜和巴布达在内的许多国家面临着的巨大挑战。我国也出现经济萎缩、收入下降以及全球信贷紧缩等诸多问题。尽管这是一场全球范围内的危机，但安提瓜政府不得不面对本国人民对政府支持、高效服务和经济发展的热切期望。政府明白需要通过公共投资项目支撑经济发展。公民投资入籍计划就是可以帮助安提瓜达到投资目标的举措之一。

　　本项目提供了三种投资选择：

　　• 向国家发展基金捐款;

　　• 通过购买获批项目的房地产——比如凯莱潞琦豪华度假村 ;

　　• 投资获批的商业项目。

　　Casroy James大使一会儿会分享有关凯莱潞琦豪华度假村 项目的更多细节。

　　我们诚挚地邀请您拜访和体验我们安提瓜和巴布达双子岛，届时您就会明白为什么我们被称作是“加勒比海的明珠”。赶快来体验我们多达365片的完美海滩、见见热情好客的人民、触摸历史悠久的古迹、享受世界顶尖的厨艺、参加热闹非凡的节庆和狂欢吧!

　　我还向您保证安提瓜和巴布达不但商业开放，而且对维持与英国、加拿大、美国和申根国等国际合作伙伴的良好关系是极为重视的。在我们执行项目和发展经济的同时，我们承诺以您的利益和关注点为本。

　　最后，我再强调两点：

　　首先，便利性。安提瓜和巴布达的护照免签超过130个国家，而且我们的外交部目前还在努力工作，以期进一步增加免签国数量，使得我们的护照具备更高价值。

　　我们是加勒比海地区投资入籍项目首屈一指的国家，我们也会努力确保安提瓜和巴布达的产品不仅在加勒比海地区，甚至在国际上都享有盛誉。

　　其次，持续性。正如前述，该投资入籍计划对安提瓜和巴布达非常重要。

　　它为我国的健康、教育、安全、基建提供了必要的收入支持

　　它还会刺激产生大量投资项目，带动成千上万的就业。

　　因此，我们安提瓜和巴布达政府将致力于与所有利益相关方一同努力确保这一投资入籍计划的持续性和有效性。

　　最后，我想向大家再次证实一下我国政府在凯莱潞琦豪华度假村项目中的合作承诺。安提瓜和巴布达政府在该项目中持有20%的股份。我们也知道阿联酋皇室成员 Shaikh Tarik Bin Faisal Al Qassemi阁下还有其他多处投资，但经过缜密的尽职调查后，我们确信Shaikh阁下能够完成这个由他提议的高端项目，所以我们承诺投资20%并授予了一系列特许权来确保项目的可行性。

　　再次感谢大家!

投资有风险，以上信息供参考。