An IMGW News Report
The Investment Migration Agency Grenada (IMA Grenada) has partnered with Arton Capital and Forbes Global Talent to offer a select group of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) the chance to acquire Grenadian citizenship and engage in advisory roles to the country’s policymakers.
“For a fraction of the cost, individuals could have an impact on Grenada’s development similar to how high-profile figures like Elon Musk seek to influence their own nations.”
The new initiative, dubbed Citizenship by Invitation, specifically targets individuals from Forbes’ billionaire list, with expertise in areas vital to Grenada’s development. These invited individuals can apply for citizenship and, upon naturalisation, take on an economic advisory role, helping shape the nation’s policies. However, this role is not a special diplomatic appointment and does not come with a diplomatic passport. A key advantage of the programme is the priority processing of applications, with a streamlined timeline of just three to four months.
Armand Arton, the Chairman and CEO of Arton Capital, a leading company in the investment migration industry and a Forbes Councils Member, emphasised the initiative’s potential to connect HNWIs with policymakers, offering them a chance to directly influence the future of the country. He pointed out that, for a fraction of the cost, individuals could have an impact on Grenada’s development similar to how high-profile figures like Elon Musk seek to influence their own nations.
In his recent Forbes article entitled ‘Global Mobility: The Role of Investment Migration, Tech and Businesses’ (August 2024), Arton highlights the transformative role of investment migration, technology, and businesses in enhancing global mobility. He notes that golden visas and citizenship by investment programmes, offering residency or citizenship in exchange for investments, have gained traction amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties. These initiatives channel capital into critical sectors like infrastructure, sustainability, and cultural heritage while offering individuals new opportunities for residence, work, and travel.
Arton also advocates for the adoption of advanced technologies such as e-visas, AI, and blockchain to streamline processes and improve security. He emphasises the need for international cooperation, proposing initiatives like the St. John’s Accord, which would enable visa-free travel among small island states. Arton believes businesses can foster global mobility by embracing international talent and advocating for streamlined cross-border policies, ultimately driving progress toward a more open, interconnected world.
At the Global Citizen Forum in Dubai on December 5, Thomas Anthony, CEO of IMA Grenada, expressed his support for the initiative, describing it as a proactive step towards achieving Grenada’s developmental goals. Anthony highlighted the importance of providing access to individuals with the expertise, experience, networks, and financial resources to help identify opportunities, develop government project documents, and implement them effectively. He noted that the current practice typically sees developers present their own projects, but the government is increasingly looking to take a more hands-on approach by identifying areas for CBI investment, creating associated projects, and seeking partners to bring those projects to fruition.
Anthony also reassured stakeholders about the integrity of Grenada’s CBI process, emphasising that the prioritisation of applications does not equate to fast-tracking or reducing the due diligence standards. “There is no special treatment beyond being prioritised,” he said, ensuring that the agency maintains its rigorous process. The initiative is also expected to diversify the source markets for Grenada’s CBI programme, with Forbes Global Talent’s executive search team inviting suitable candidates from key markets, including China, Nigeria, Ukraine, and the USA.
This innovative approach offers HNWIs the opportunity to directly shape Grenada’s future while benefiting from the country’s Citizenship by Investment programme, showcasing how investment migration can foster global mobility, economic development, and policy change.
