GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – The Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin will lead a delegation from the Cayman Islands Government to the GREAT Festival of Innovation, which begins on Wednesday, 21st March, in Hong Kong.

“Our group is attending as part of the United Kingdom delegation, we are the only Overseas Territory to be invited to the GREAT Festival and I’m honoured to attend,” said Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin. “The Asian market has become increasingly more important to our financial services business and with the advent of financial technology, or fintech, there is opportunity to grow that business from the region.

“The GREAT Festival therefore gives us an opportunity to support the Caymanian financial services firms in Hong Kong as well as highlight Cayman’s strengths in financial services, luxury tourism and innovations in health and Cayman’s healthcare industry,” he said.

“I will use this opportunity to meet and strengthen ties with business leaders in Hong Kong and as such, together with the Financial Services Minister, will host a festival event that will highlight the Cayman Islands financial services business,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “While there I will also have a bilateral meeting with UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Hon. Dr. Liam Fox to discuss matters of interest between the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom.”

Minister for Financial Services Hon. Tara Rivers will take part in a panel discussion titled Fintech Futures while Commerce Minister Hon. Joseph Hew will attend wearing two hats – commerce and tourism. He has been invited to serve on a panel titled the Future of Luxury where he will speak to Cayman’s high-end tourism product. Health Minister Hon. Dwayne Seymour will attend to champion innovations in healthcare, including healthcare tourism.

Also joining the delegation will be representatives from Cayman Finance, the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce and others from the private sector including Dr. Devi Shetty from Health City Cayman Islands who will speak on health as well as serve as a panellist in a session titled Living Longer, Living Better.

“Another important benefit of participating alongside the United Kingdom will be opportunities to reinforce the relationship we have jointly built over the past several years,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “We anticipate not only engaging in UK-sponsored fringe events with members of the UK Government representatives, but we look forward to having them join us at a Cayman Islands cocktail reception where they will hear first-hand the good work we do regarding financial services. And we will have opportunities to meet leaders of Hong Kong-based Cayman companies.”

The Festival will explore the latest in cutting-edge innovation and the future of how people work, live, play and learn through a series of talks, panels and interactive workshops over four days. Bringing together some of the world’s brightest minds, business leaders and policy makers, the Festival will provide a unique platform for powerful future partnerships.

This festival is the third of its kind after the success of the GREAT Festivals of Creativity in Istanbul (2014) and Shanghai (2015). Its vision is to share innovation and create life-long partnerships that will drive the future of free trade and prosperity.

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