U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The Office of the Governor announced today that the U.S. Virgin Islands will host a delegation of public and private sector representatives from Ghana and West Africa for a public business forum and industry showcase on St. Thomas. The visit continues the working relationships established during Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s recent trade mission to Ghana, which included Virgin Islands stakeholders from business, labor, tourism, culture, and trade.
The delegation is being convened with support from the Government of Ghana and the Ghana Tourism Authority, along with participating companies and institutions from West Africa. The U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism are serving as official partners for the engagement and its public programming.
“This delegation represents a practical continuation of the relationships built during our Ghana trade mission,” Governor Bryan said. “We are focused on outcomes, expanding trade and tourism, strengthening financial and digital infrastructure, and building investable pathways that create jobs and opportunity for Virgin Islanders.”
Public Invitation: Business Forum and Industry Showcase
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Westin St. Thomas Beach Resort and Spa
The Governor’s Office invites local entrepreneurs, small businesses, cultural leaders, labor stakeholders, community partners, and members of the Legislature to attend. The forum will include structured discussions, networking opportunities, and sector-specific engagement centered on priority areas identified during the Governor’s trade mission and follow-up stakeholder meetings.
Delegation Focus Areas
Participating representatives will engage on opportunities in the following sectors:
- Banking and International Finance: trade finance, small business lending, correspondent banking pathways, diaspora financial services
- Fintech and Digital Payments: cross-border payments, remittances, merchant services, digital identity and onboarding, compliance-ready payment systems
- Technology and GovTech: modernization of public services, citizen portals, workflow automation, cloud and IoT solutions
- Energy, Infrastructure, and Telecommunications: resilient infrastructure delivery, broadband and network expansion, clean and distributed energy solutions
- Tourism and Destination Development: co-marketing, source-market partnerships, product development, cultural and heritage tourism collaboration
USVIEDA will provide information on incentive programs and investment support, and the Department of Tourism will present partnership pathways aligned with destination growth, airlift strategy, and visitor economy development.
Event participation details, including the agenda and registration guidance, will be shared through the Office of the Governor, USVIEDA, and the Department of Tourism.
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