January 2017 | Business View Caribbean

46 47 NATIONAL PROPERTIES LIMITED PREFERRED VENDORS n Invest SVG www.investsvg.com The mission of Invest SVG is to facilitate sustainable eco- nomic growth in St. Vincent and the Grenadines by provid- ing Investment Promotions, Export Development, Business Facilitation, and Research Services to potential and existing local and foreign investors and government agencies. Some of Invest SVG’s opportunities include: International Financial Services, Information & Communication Technology, Tourism, Agro-business, Light Manufacturing, and Creative Industries. n Massy Stores (SVG) Ltd. www.superjsupermarkets.com Massy Stores SVG opened in August 2011, with three con- venient locations: one at Upper Bay St . in Kingstown, one lo- cated at Stoney Ground, and the other at Arnos Vale. All three locations offer competitive pricing, gr eat customer service, and quality brands. n Stewart Engineering Ltd. www.stewartengineeringsvg.com variation requests from the NCB, into a specialized NCB bank building. When it was considered how problematic it could be to find tenants for a special- ized banking building,NPLwelcomed the opportunity to sell it outright to NCB,which by that time had become the Bank of St. V incent and the Grena- dines,when they offered to buy it. The Reigate property was sold for $22.5 million in Augus t, 2011. Other exampl es of ownership by means other tha n by government deed of grant include the purchase of the so-called Bottler s’ property at the wind- ward entrance to Kingstown and the joint purchase of the so-called Aquatic Club property in Villa. Damon Brown is the Promotions and Marketing Mana ger for National Prop- erties, responsib le for reaching out to private develope rs and other potential partners. “Amon g other things, there is an annual confer ence in Miami that we attend,which bri ngs together hundreds of the leading m inds in the tourism industry from La tin America and the Caribbean, includ ing but not limited to investors, owner s, lenders, hotel chain management, co mpany executives and the like,” he relates. “That is one of the main avenues we use to mar- ket. But, of course, throughout the region, there are potential investors with whomwe are constantly engaged. Some of them have been reluctant to commit mainly because of inadequate airlift. We can safely say, now, that with the imminence of the airport, the in- terest is heightened and we anticipate, over the short and medium term,major investments will take place.” Desmond Morgan, a director on the Board of National Properties is equal- ly optimistic. “I think five years from now, that we would have attracted several international investors and our hotel/tourism sector would have come alive,” he declares. “I think up until now, St.Vincent has been the best-kept secret with probably some of the best waters, yachting facilities, and natural beauty that the world has not yet seen. One of our main challeng- es has been our difficulty in moving people by air. With our international airport to attract tourists and serious funders,we will look at all options for the development of this country as we engage with viable business entities, be they industrial, commercial, or in the tourism sector.” “So, things are on the move!”Dougan proclaims. “The Argyle International Airport is scheduled to open in Feb- ruary, 2017. And St. Vincent and the Grenadines is now on the cusp of a major economic take-off.”