The Government of The Bahamas, Bahamas Investment Authority, offers investors in The Bahamas multitude investment incentives and are open to qualifying individuals or firms.
The Bahamas Investment Incentives:
Here, we highlight the incentives.
The Commercial Enterprises Bill 2017 (CEB) was recently introduced by The Government of The Bahamas to help improve the ease of doing business in The Bahamas to generate investment, increase job opportunities and stimulate growth by way of relaxing and streamlining the work permit application process for foreign workers from specified industries. As a result of the Bill, the Bahamas Investment Board has a unit dedicated to assisting foreign, Bahamian and joint-venture businesses and individuals seeking to open a specified commercial enterprise. The specified commercial enterprises or industries included in the Bill are: captive insurance, reinsurance, mutual fund administration, arbitration, wealth management, international trade, international arbitrage, computer programming, software design and writing, bioinformatics and analytics, maritime trade, nanotechnology, biomedical industries, boutique health facilities, data storage or warehousing, aviation approved maintenance operations, aviation registration, call centers, and manufacturing or assembly of manufactures.
Review the Complete Commercial Enterprises Bill 2017 (CEB)
The City of Nassau Revitalization Act came into operation on July 1, 2008 to encourage the revitalization of the City of Nassau by granting certain exemptions and fiscal incentives to persons engaging in such investment. According to an overview of investment incentives by the Bahamas Investment Authority, the Act provides incentives and duty concessions in connection with restoration, repair and upgrade of buildings, commercial and residential, in the City of Nassau. Since 2008, the Act has undergone amendments and has been extended until June 2018.
Review the Complete City of Nassau Revitalization Act
The Hotels Encouragement Act commenced on July 22, 1954 as an Act to encourage the construction of hotels in The Bahamas by providing for the refund of customs duties and emergency taxes and certain other concessions, and for the exemption of such hotels from certain taxation, and to relieve existing hotels from certain taxation. The benefits available to investors include:
Review the Complete Hotels Encouragement Act (Chapter 289)
Applications
Particularly beneficial to manufacturers, the Industries Encouragement Act came into effect on December 18, 1970 as an Act to encourage the establishment and development of industries and for matters connected therewith. The benefits available to investors include:
Review the Complete Industries Encouragement Act (Chapter 326)
Applications
The Family Islands Development Encouragement Act came into operation on July 1, 2008 as an Act to grant certain import concessions in respect of certain Family Islands for encouraging development. It has been extended until June 2018. The benefits available to investors include:
Review the Complete Family Islands Development Encouragement Act (Chapter 328A)
The International Persons Landholding Act came into effect on January 1, 1994 as an Act to repeal the Immovable Property (Acquisition by Foreign Persons) Act, 3 of 1981, and to facilitate the holding of land by non-Bahamians and by companies under their control. The benefits available to investors include:
Review the Complete International Persons Landholding Act (Chapter 140) and Application
The Bahamas Vacation Plan and Time-sharing Act came into operation on January 12, 2000 as an Act to provide for the creation, regulation and management of timesharing and vacation projects; for the protection of purchasers of timesharing and vacation plans; and for connected purposes. The benefits available to investors include:
Review the Complete Bahamas Vacation Plan and Time-sharing Act
The Tariff Act came into effect on July 1, 2008 as an Act to make new provision for the imposition and collection of customs duties, and to give effect to the harmonized system of tariff and for other matters connect therewith. The benefits available to investors include:
Review the Complete Tariff Act, 2013
The Export Manufacturing Industries Encouragement Act commenced on January 15, 1990 as an Act to encourage the establishment and development of export manufacturing industries and for matters connected therewith. The benefits available to investors include:
Review the Complete Export Manufacturing Industries Encouragement Act
The Agricultural Manufactories Act commenced on July 7, 1913 as an Act relating to the encouragement of agricultural manufactories. The benefits available to investors include:
Review the Complete Agricultural Manufactories Act
The Hawksbill Creek Agreement Act was established in 1955, entered into by the Bahamian Government and a newly formed Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA). Envisioning a future as a leading shipping hub and center for international business, this future-forward group saw to it that a deep-water harbor and an economic zone were established on Grand Bahama Island. Their vision became reality, with Freeport, Grand Bahama Island at its center. Today, Freeport is the beating heart of this 230-square-mile economic zone fueling massive trade, tourism and much more. Long-term tax concessions, world-class infrastructure, reliable telecommunications, and accessibility make it an exceptional location to live and work.
Read the Complete Hawksbill Creek Agreement Act
The Bahamas Free Trade Zones Act came into effect on December 31, 1984 as an Act providing for the operation of free industrial and commercial zones within The Bahamas.
Review the Complete Free Trade Zones Act
The Spirits and Beer Manufactures Act commenced on July 31, 1963 as an Act to prohibit the distilling and manufacture of spirits and the brewing and manufacture of beer, except under license and to provide for the free importation of materials and goods in connection with such manufacture in certain circumstances. The benefits available to investors include:
Review the Complete Spirits and Beer Manufacture Act
For support navigating the series of investment incentives and applications provided by The Government of The Bahamas, Bahamas Investment Authority, contact IFF today.
*Bahamian or non-Bahamian investors seeking to invest in and/or establish a business in The Bahamas must submit a proposal to the Authority for consideration by the National Economic Council (NEC), if the proposal involves any of the following:
*Source: Summary of Benefits Under The Hotels Encouragement Act
Investment opportunities in The Bahamas span many sectors. Learn more about investment opportunities in The Bahamas, and the application and approval processes, by downloading The Commonwealth of The Bahamas National Investment Policy. All investors should be guided by the National Investment Policy.