Jersey remains a dynamic point of entry into the UK investment market, acting as the conduit through which almost £500bn of foreign investment into the UK flows, 5% of the entire stock of foreign-owned assets. It is the largest UK crown dependency, or overseas territory, in terms of investment professionals, with a work force of more than 13,000 and continues to garner new investment and interest from around the world.

The island’s investment funds sector has continued to perform well, with the total value of funds under administration in Jersey reaching £226bn in December 2015, the third highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. Asset managers have continued relocating to Jersey; 126 fund promoters are now operating in the territory, a 113% increase since 2011, and registered Jersey Foundations have increase by 10% over 2015 to more than 300.

The financial centre has also seen uptake from new sources further afield as a result of its overseas activities. One third of all Chinese companies listed on AIM have incorporated in Jersey, demonstrating the island’s pull for foreign interest.

Jersey Financial Centre representatives attribute this strength to a focus on international cooperation and transparency. It meets all tax transparency requirements, in many cases ahead of their implementation in larger onshore economies, and holds an automatic tax exchange agreement with the US along with an enhanced agreement with the UK since April this year. Jersey was also an early adopter of the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard, demonstrating its commitment to being ahead of the curve.

The foreign focus of the island’s financial centre looks to continue unabated as efforts to elicit interest from overseas has intensified. Over the course of 2015 and 2016 Jersey completed an Asia, GCC and Africa Roadshow programme covering Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Cape Town and finally London, where flagship conferences attracted record attendance.