Jersey Finance – the part-publicly funded body tasked with promoting the Island’s finance industry – is exploring the possibility of having a permanent presence in the Gulf region after returning from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Bahrain.
The ten-day trip, led by Senator Frank Walker and including Jersey Finance chairman Pierre Horsfall, chief executive Phil Austin and 13 industry representatives, drummed up around £300m worth of business and a third visit is already planned for next year.
It was clear during our visit, and when we were in Dubai in particular, that there is a lot of enthusiasm for us to open an office in the region,’ said Mr Austin.
‘But I have been involved in setting up representative offices in the past and it is never as easy as you think.
Following our successful visit, we now need to study the proposal in the cold light of day and work out if it is the right thing to do.
