Bridgetown, Barbados – June 2025
Business Barbados has one simple yet inspiring goal: to make it easier to start, operate, and grow businesses in Barbados—whether they are domestic, regional, or global ventures.
That was the clear message from Chairperson Connie Smith, who emphasised that while the agency evolved from the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO), this transformation goes far beyond a mere rebranding. Instead, it represents a comprehensive overhaul of how business facilitation is approached on the island.
Officially launched on April 1, Business Barbados, however, is still in the early stages of implementing its full suite of organisational changes. Acknowledging this, Smith appealed to the business community for patience as the agency works toward becoming fully operational under its new mandate.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Business Facilitation & Policy at a BIBA-hosted breakfast session held at the Radisson Aquatica Resort, Smith was joined by a distinguished panel. The discussion, moderated by BIBA’s Executive Director Carmel Haynes, also featured Tameisha Rochester, Registrar and Officer-in-Charge at Business Barbados; Kaye Greenidge, CEO of Invest Barbados; and Mark Hill, CEO of Export Barbados.
Smith was clear in her message: Business Barbados is not simply a registry or a renamed CAIPO. Its mandate is significantly broader—encompassing investment support, regulatory reform, and business advocacy.
While acknowledging the shortcomings of CAIPO, Smith underscored that Business Barbados is a government initiative designed in the national interest. “It was streamlined to create efficiencies, remove red tape, and foster a far more business-friendly environment,” she explained. “Ultimately, the objective is to position Barbados as a competitive global business hub.”
Smith, Managing Director of VISTRA and a former BIBA president, emphasised that Business Barbados plays a critical role in advancing government’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business on the island.
She noted that with the introduction of a global minimum tax rate, Barbados must now find competitive advantages beyond tax incentives.
“Business Barbados is positioned between Invest Barbados and Export Barbados as a sister agency. Invest Barbados focuses on promoting and attracting foreign direct investment. Business Barbados, in contrast, is responsible for facilitating the practical aspects of doing business, including corporate and intellectual property registration,” she explained.
During the session, Smith also clarified the distinction between Business Barbados, the government agency, and Business Barbados, the long-running publication of the same name produced by Keith Miller.
“For over 25 years, the Business Barbados magazine has presented Barbados in a highly favourable light—both in print and online—as an ideal location for investment and business growth,” she noted. “Keith is actually a member of the agency’s board, underscoring the alignment between the publication and our mission. Additionally, representatives from both Invest Barbados and Export Barbados have served on the magazine’s editorial board for many years.”
As Business Barbados continues to roll out its transformation, stakeholders are watching closely, hopeful that this renewed focus on business facilitation will unlock new opportunities and set a higher standard for doing business in Barbados.
At the same time, Smith urged the business community to recognise that improving ease of doing business was not only the responsibility of government but involved the private sector such as utility companies and a range of service providers. (BIBA)