Richard Branson to be Honoured at NYC Emerging Market Investment Forum

NEW YORK, May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Is the Caribbean the next China, India or Brazil? Find out this June as the Caribbean's most talked about investment forum that brings together several ministers of governments with investors in one room, returns to New York City during Caribbean American Heritage Month in the United States.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012, which will honour world renowned business leader, Sir Richard Branson with the 2012 Leadership Award for his commitment to the Caribbean, is set for June 6, 2012 from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, 1535 Broadway in Times Square, organizers say.

The power forum, a partnership between digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization during Caribbean Week in NYC, will include as this year's panellists: Jonathan S. Blue, Chairman & Managing Director, Blue Equity, LLC. and CEO of Cool Petroleum; Jay Yeo, President, Solamon Energy Corp.; Lisa Lake, Chief Development Director, Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean; Jean Arnell, vice president of the French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce, Hon. Minister of Tourism of St. Kitts and Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Ricky Skerritt; and an official of the US Department of Commerce's International Trade Commission.

Richard Branson is being honoured for his commitment to the Caribbean through The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean and for his lifetime of entrepreneurship, and his inspirational leadership.

"It is a great to be honoured in this way," commented Sir Richard. "I have had a home on Necker Island in the Caribbean for many years and find the people are highly entrepreneurial. The first year's intake at the Center has only reinforced my views and it's great to see the wide variety of businesses we have; everything from cake making to coral reef protection. Our aim is to help create hundreds of jobs across the Caribbean."

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 is the place to be to find out what is happening in the Caribbean right now and what is emerging for the future. The forum comes as Chinese investment in the Caribbean continues to boom in this free trade emerging market economy that is politically stable and boosts a highly literate work force and an established tourism market, and which the International Monetary Fund and World Bank forecast will see a 3.5 percent growth into 2013, higher than the economies of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and similar to those of East Asia.

"If you are a private equity investor, investment banker, financier, real estate developer, hotel chain executive, lawyers, architect or entrepreneur, looking to grow your money and do business in an emerging market that is on the up and up, then this is a can't miss event," said Felicia Persaud, convener of Invest Caribbean Now and CEO of Hard Beat. "To book last minute seats or tables to the event log on now to InvestCaribbeanNow.com or call 718-476-3616."

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 sponsors are The French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce, (CCISM), and One Caribbean Television while supporting sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now and Damoola Inc.

For remaining sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities email Joe Bernstein at [email protected].

Supplementary information on the event can be found at InvestCaribbeanNow.com, the event's pages on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Invest-Caribbean/100002110419705 and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/InvestingCarib When tweeting about this event, use #InvestCarib.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Chris Chaplin
718-476-3616
[email protected]

SOURCE Invest Caribbean Now