Lord Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, visits Guernsey

Friday 27 March 2026

Lord Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, has visited Guernsey for the first time and praised the island's global ambitions.

He travelled to Guernsey for a series of high-level discussions, including with members of the Committee for Economic Development, which focused on strengthening the island's international trade relationships and unlocking new opportunities across the Commonwealth.

The visit comes as the Committee focused on the delivery of the Finance Sector Growth Strategy and developing a more ambitious trade policy. While established partners such as Canada, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia remain central to Guernsey's future trade ambitions, the Strategy also highlights the island's growing focus on emerging markets including South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana and Kenya.

These Commonwealth nations increasingly serve as regional hubs for fintech innovation, banking, and capital market activity - offering important opportunities for collaboration and cross border investment. Beyond finance, Guernsey's growing international footprint spans advanced sectors such as aviation services through the 2 REG Aircraft Registry and global healthcare delivery led by Specsavers.

Lord Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, said:

"Guernsey is a forward-looking jurisdiction with an impressive reputation for stability, quality and innovation. The island's commitment to deepening relationships across the Commonwealth is clear and its ambitions align strongly with the growth opportunities we see across member nations. I am delighted to support Guernsey as it strengthens its presence in key global markets.

"During the visit, there was reference to Guernsey's participation in trade agreements, including with Commonwealth partners such as the UK Canada Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP). We discussed Guernsey government's work to ensure the Bailiwick's interests are represented in ongoing trade negotiations."

It follows the States of Deliberation unanimously supporting Guernsey's approach to joining UK Rest of World trade agreements in September 2022.

Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, President of the Committee for Economic Development, said:

"Guernsey is very much open for business. As a well-regulated and globally respected jurisdiction, we are focused on expanding opportunities for our financial services, innovation sectors and emerging industries. At the same time, we are committed to ensuring that our international trade strategy aligns with our broader economic priorities, including sustainable growth and responsible finance. Lord Marland's visit reinforces our shared ambition to build strong, long-term partnerships across the Commonwealth.

"As global markets face increasing volatility, Guernsey is ambitious in exploring new opportunities and building on the strength of its existing markets. The government and industry remain aligned in their commitment to developing sustainable, strategic and mutually beneficial international relationships."