China's economy is decelerating - and causing some worries - but the BVI is unfazed and says opportunities for such jurisdictions are large in Asia.

While China is experiencing an economic slowdown from an admittedly red-hot pace, the country continues to excite offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands as they market their attractions as wealth hubs to the Asian giant.

"The BVI is sitting on a sweet spot with the rise of China," Dr Qian Liu , Director of Economics Unit, The Economist Group, Beijing, said at a recent conference.

Such a view will be music to the ears of the Caribbean jurisdiction that has been working to build out a presence in Asia (as explained in an interview with WealthBriefingAsia here). 

"First, outbound direct investment from China has increased 35 per cent since 2005," Dr Qian said. "Chinese companies investing in international markets want the certainty that BVI structures, backed by BVI courts and English common law, provide, rather than relying on the courts of countries in emerging markets,” she continued.

“Second, China's fast-rising middle class will want trust funds, private wealth management and other services that the BVI can arrange. Finally, the Chinese middle class wants to spend more on tourism, a trend that began in Southeast Asia and continues in Hawaii , Tahiti and the Caribbean . As a tourist destination, the BVI sits on the rising demand for tourism,” Dr Liu said. 

She made her remarks during a presentation at the conference entitled "China's One Belt One Road Regional Development Strategy: Long Term Opportunities for the Offshore Sector." 

Dr Liu was speaking at the Business BVI ASIA 2015 Annual Regional Conference, held at the Grand Hyatt last week and the event was themed "Pivoting to Asia - A View Beyond the Horizon". BVI House Asia, the representative office of the Government of the British Virgin Islands in the Asia-Pacific region, was the sole diamond sponsor of the conference.

Orlando Smith, premier and minister for finance of the BVI, added: “Despite some current concerns, the economic experts predict a reasonably good outlook for Asia's future and we also think Asia will continue to make its mark with vitality, financial success and innovation."