2013年-世界发展银行全球_Diaspora_Investing___The_Business_and_Investment_Interests_of_the_Caribbean_Diaspora_36页_6mb

Summary of Diaspora Investing: The Business and Investment Interests of the Caribbean Diaspora

Core Content

This report explores the business and investment interests of the Caribbean diaspora, focusing on how they can be leveraged to support entrepreneurship and economic growth in the region. The study was conducted by infoDev as part of the Entrepreneurship Program for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC), in alignment with the World Bank's Country Partnership Strategies. The goal is to understand the diaspora's willingness and ability to invest in the Caribbean and to identify models that could operationalize diaspora investment.

Main Findings

Profile of the Caribbean Diaspora

• The Caribbean diaspora is a well-educated and affluent group.
• 80% of respondents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• 65% are employed in the private sector, with 40% owning their own businesses.
• The top professional backgrounds include education, culture and arts, and business consulting.
• 6% have backgrounds in asset management, private equity, or venture equity.

Engagement with the Caribbean

• 85% of diaspora members give back to the Caribbean in some form.
• 60% visit the Caribbean at least once a year, with 25% visiting more than twice.
• 70% are affiliated with organizations in their resident country or back in the Caribbean.
• 90% expressed a desire to be more connected in the future, possibly through mentoring.
• Mentoring is a key area of interest, with 68% willing to mentor and 80% willing to spend more than one hour per week on mentoring.

Financial Ability to Invest

• 25% of diaspora members have investable wealth or annual earnings over $100,000.
• 8% are accredited investors based on U.S. standards.
• These investors tend to have greater investment sophistication and are more willing to invest larger sums and more time.
• 50% invest between $10,000 and $100,000 per deal.
• Three-fourths of respondents expect a 3–5 year exit from their investments.

Investment Preferences

• Start-up ventures are the most preferred investment type, even though only 13% currently invest in the Caribbean.
• 40% of diaspora members have previously invested in start-ups globally, with 57% of these investments based in the Caribbean.
• 23% of diaspora members have invested in start-ups in the Caribbean.
• 63% are interested in diaspora bonds, which could serve as a tool to channel diaspora funds back to the region.

Key Barriers to Engagement

• Social instability, connectivity issues, and weak legal enforcement are the top three barriers to diaspora engagement.
• Lack of awareness of investment opportunities and bureaucracy in making investments are also cited as major obstacles.
• Distance and lack of due diligence channels hinder trust-building with entrepreneurs.

Investment Models for Diaspora Engagement

• Online portals that connect investors with entrepreneurs and mentors could be a key enabler.
• Angel groups and reputable co-investors can help reduce risk and increase trust.
• Web-based crowdfunding platforms are well-regarded by accredited investors.
• Diaspora bonds could be a new investment vehicle to increase capital flow back to the region.

Enablers for Increased Investment

• Capacity building for high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs is essential.
• Improved transparency in diaspora bonds is a prerequisite for their adoption.
• Personal connections and trust are critical in facilitating investment.
• Regional engagement is preferred over nationalistic approaches.

Recommendations

• Stakeholders should focus on increasing visibility of investment opportunities.
• Trust-building mechanisms, such as face-to-face meetings and mentorship, should be prioritized.
• Online platforms should be developed to streamline the investment process and provide access to information.
• Diaspora bonds should be promoted with transparency and clarity to attract more investors.
• Collaboration between diaspora members, entrepreneurs, and local governments is vital to enhance investment flow and support innovation ecosystems.

Conclusion

The Caribbean diaspora has the potential to significantly contribute to the region's economic development through investment and mentorship. While there is a latent interest in investing in start-ups and other ventures, the barriers to engagement need to be addressed to unlock this potential. By creating transparent investment channels, supporting regional engagement, and building trust, the diaspora can be effectively mobilized as a key driver of private-sector growth and innovation in the Caribbean.