By Val Matthias. Updated 8:46 p.m., Thursday, March 19, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Newly appointed Chairman of Invest SVG, Kevin Hope, has outlined his vision for the country’s investment promotion agency, pledging to strengthen diaspora engagement and expand opportunities across key sectors of the economy.
Hope, a Vincentian economist who recently returned home after years working with regional governments and multilateral agencies, said his priority is job creation and positioning St. Vincent and the Grenadines as “paradise for investors.”
“Our job is to create that marketplace where Vincentians at home and abroad can explore opportunities,” Hope stated. “It’s about lives and livelihoods, about making paradise a shared reality.”
Invest SVG’s flagship outreach program, “Home is Where the Heart Is”, will lead a series of diaspora investment drives beginning in London on April 19, followed by stops in the British Virgin Islands (May 2), Toronto (May 16), and New York City (May 23). The initiative aims to convert diaspora interest into tangible investments, from equity in national assets such as the Holiday Inn to real estate projects in Bequia and export promotion of Vincentian products.
Hope said Invest SVG is reviewing its strategic plan, onboarding a new CEO, and seeking passage of an Investment Act to give the agency greater authority. He emphasized the need for evidence based data capture and diaspora mapping to tailor investment products to specific markets.
The chairman also highlighted the importance of mobilizing remittance flows estimated at $250 million annually intostructured investments, and engaging communities such as the Garifuna, who he described as “part and parcel of the Vincentian family.”
The government has identified agriculture, the blue economy, ICT, creative industries, and tourism as strategic pillars for investment. Hope said Invest SVG will align with these priorities while ensuring that diaspora and foreign investors alike can “own a piece of the pie.”
Invest SVG is the national investment promotion agency of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, established in 2004 to attract foreign direct investment, support local entrepreneurship, and promote exports. It operates under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Investment, and plays a central role in facilitating projects across tourism, agriculture, the blue economy, and creative industries.
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