Guernsey Finance is ‘more relevant than ever’ in today’s markets

The agency operates in a very different environment to the one it set out on at the end of the last century, having faced a number of challenges along the way, not least a global financial crisis. But all that has not derailed Guernsey as a leading global specialist financial services centre.

I am pleased and privileged, as chairman of Guernsey Finance, to be delivering the keynote address at our annual industry update later this week. My focus on Thursday will not be to look back, but to look forward at what the 2020s might have in store for our major industry – one that I’m proud to have had a connection with for the best part of 40 years now.

Combined with very nearly 20 years at the heart of politics in Guernsey, and the last four as chairman of Guernsey Finance too, I think I have a broad perspective to look to the future, both from an industry perspective and by taking a political outlook.

I – and my colleagues in the States – am enthused at the progress being made in developing Guernsey as a specialist centre of green and sustainable finance. So much so that government agreed to release another £300,000 of taxpayers’ money into supporting and promoting this initiative.

This is not the first time that Guernsey has been at the forefront of taking new ideas and running with them. We have plenty of examples over the past few decades of our record for innovation and I am confident, aided by our nimble nature, connectivity and political stability, that we will continue to do so.

From my position within the finance industry, I am able to see the corporate trends that are shaping our outlook.

The opportunities presented by digital transformation.

The threat that could be posed through global consolidation, which makes Guernsey Finance all the more relevant in today’s market.

And the strength of our offering, which is why I remain confident that, despite global headwinds, Guernsey remains very much open for business.

I look forward to seeing you at our industry update this week.

. Register at www.weareguernsey.com/events.