Barbados Attracts Foreign Companies Amid Global Trade Tensions

Bridgetown, Barbados – June, 2025

Barbados is increasingly drawing the attention of foreign companies seeking a stable, tariff-friendly environment amid rising global trade uncertainty. This trend was highlighted by Mark Hill, Chief Executive Officer of Export Barbados, during a recent panel discussion on Business Facilitation & Policy hosted by BIBA, the Association for Global Business.

The event, held at the Radisson Aquatica Resort, was moderated by BIBA Executive Director Carmel Haynes and featured a panel including Connie Smith, Chairperson of Business Barbados; Tameisha Rochester, Registrar of Business Barbados; and Kaye Greenidge, CEO of Invest Barbados. This portion of the discussion focused on the role of Business Barbados in supporting innovation, growth, and investor facilitation.

Hill revealed that Export Barbados currently has “a short list of about 20 companies” interested in setting up operations on the island. However, a lack of available industrial space is hindering progress. “We have literally run out of space, and our private sector has not invested in industrial real estate. Everybody is building hotels, and so we have a problem,” he said.

He noted that several companies are actively seeking facilities between 3,000 and 4,000 square feet, but Barbados could not currently meet this demand. As a result, some potential investors are turning to regional competitors like Jamaica and St. Lucia, where turnkey industrial spaces are more readily available.

In response to a question on how Business Barbados could better support Export Barbados’ mission, Hill emphasised the significance of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s proactive investment promotion efforts. He stressed that the Prime Minister has been lobbying hard to generate interest in Barbados.

Still, Hill acknowledged that a major constraint remains: “We have a space problem that we have to fix across the board. We’re trying to get that done in the short and medium term because that space is pulling people.”

The session underscored the urgent need for infrastructure investment to capitalise on growing international interest in Barbados as a business hub. (BIBA)