The British Virgin Islands are an English-speaking Dependent Territory of the United Kingdom, comprising of a group of approximately 40 islands and islets located in the Caribbean off Puerto Rico with a population of 25,000 of which the majority live on Tortola. The BVI is politically stable, under the 1967 constitution. The Governor represents the Queen and heads an Executive Council. There is a 13-member elected Legislative Council.
Since the last three decades the Government has welcomed offshore business, and has created a world-standard regulatory structure to avoid money-laundering and other criminal activity. While the BVI has decided not to encourage the growth of offshore banking, the BVI International Business Company is one of the world’s most popular offshore entities. It is used extensively in financial holding, investment structures and in trust management.