Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands–Reinforcing its presence in Asia, the Cayman Islands Government exhibited and hosted a private session at the China Offshore Summit for the second consecutive year.

Prior to the summit Government met with several private–sector firms in Hong Kong, updating them on current and pending changes to financial services-related laws,and hearing feedback on further facilitating growth in the Far East.

Participating in the meetings, which were held on22 October, were Offshore Incorporations Ltd.,which handles company formations; and Maples and Calder, Appleby, and Conyers Dill and Pearman, three law firms whose international operations include offices in both Cayman and Hong Kong.

The key component of Cayman’s presence at the China Offshore Summit, held on 24 and 25 October in Shanghai,was the Government–sponsored private session. Similar to last year, this function was the most subscribed segment of the summit’s private event series, with more than 120 persons in attendance representing top financial intermediaries and high net-worth individuals from mainland China.

Industry partners from Maples and Calder, Ogier, Ernst & Young, dmsManagement,and Cayman Enterprise City joined the Premier, the Hon.McKeeva Bush,OBE, JP, in promoting business opportunities in Cayman. Jonathan Piercy, director of the Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI), presentedt he Islands’ overall business case to the audience.

In addition to the private session, summit attendees learned more about the Cayman Islands’ financial services and investment by stopping by Cayman’s exhibition booth and picking up information from the Civil Aviation Authority, General Registry, DCI, and the Financial Services Secretariat.

Premier Bush was pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response to the Cayman Islands’ presence.

‘With the private session and the exhibition booth, Government and private–sector partners offered strong validation for the country’s leadership position in thef inancial services sector, and explained why Cayman structures are so highly sought after’,he said.

Government’s overall theme for the summit, Guanxi:The Cayman–China Connection, aimed to educate investment advisers,venture capitalists,private-equity firms and other financial institutions on the ways they can benefit from the asset management and corporate product offerings available in Cayman. Guanxi is aMandarin word meaning ‘networks’ or ‘connections’,inferring support and cooperation particularly in the business and social contexts.

China Offshore Summit attracted more than 500delegates. Besides private-sector firms such as law firms and company formation specialists, jurisdictions in attendance included Cook Islands, Samoa,the Bahamas, Cyprus, and the British Virgin Islands.

The China Offshore Summit private session programme

WelcomeandOpeningRemarksonInvestmentbythePremier, thHon.McKeeva

Bush, OBE, JP

. Cayman– TheWiseChoice,byJonathanPiercy, Director,Department of Commerce and Investment

. Wealth Structuring for High Net–Worth Individuals, by Richard Grasby, Associate, Maples and Calder

. Panel Discussionon Investment Fund Structures, moderated by Henry Smith, Global Managing Partner,  Maples and Calder, with panellists Nicholas Plowman, Managing Partner, Ogier; Niaz Khan, Executive Director, dms Offshore Investment Services; and Christine Lin, Partner, Ernst & Young

. Cayman’s SEZ (Special Economic Zone): Your Gateway to the Americas, by Jason Blick, CEO, Cayman Enterprise City

. Closing Remarks by Jonathan Piercy,Director, Department of Commerce and Investment