Author: Niu Ltd

The state of California sued the Trump administration Monday night, arguing that the decision to add a question about citizenship in the 2020 Census violates the U.S. Constitution. The state’s attorney general acted just after the Commerce Department announced the change in a late-night release.

The action was followed Tuesday by an announcement from New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman that he will lead a multi-state lawsuit to preserve what he said was a fair and accurate Census.

The suits are just the start of what is likely to be a broader battle with enormous political stakes that pits the administration against many Democratic states, which believe that the citizenship question will reduce the response rate for the census and produce undercounts. As a result, opponents say, states with significant immigrant populations stand to lose seats in state legislatures and Congress, along with electoral college votes in presidential elections and federal funding based on census counts.

Republicans gained a significant advantage in redrawing maps after the 2010 Census, as The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake has reported. Democrats worry about a repeat.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra was among several Democrats who vowed to challenge the addition of the question.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said, among other things, that the data could help identify potential voting-rights violations by providing more accurate information than currently available about the proportion of a congressional district’s population that is eligible to vote by virtue of holding citizenship. Information about citizenship currently comes from a survey that samples a small percentage of the population.

In raw political terms, it has been estimated that an undercount feared by Democrats could cost California at least one seat in the House of Representatives and, on the national level, shift political power from cities to more rural communities with the benefits falling to the Republican Party, as The Post’s Michael Scherer has written.

The administration’s plans were not a surprise. ProPublica, the nonprofit investigative journalism organization, disclosed in December that the Justice Department had asked the Census Bureau to make the change. And some Republicans in Congress tried to force a similar change for the 2010 census.

The Constitution requires a census, or “actual enumeration,” every 10 years to apportion representation in Congress. Apportionment is based on the “number of free persons” in each state. California’s lawsuit alleges the change violates the constitutional requirement of “actual Enumeration” of every person in every state, every 10 years.

“It is long settled that all persons residing in the United States — citizens and non-citizens alike — must be counted to fulfill the Constitution’s ‘actual Enumeration’ mandate,” the lawsuit stated. Becerra also argued the move violated the Administrative Procedure Act’s prohibition against “arbitrary and capricious” agency action.

“The census numbers provide the backbone for planning how our communities can grow and thrive in the coming decade,” Becerra said in a statement. “California simply has too much to lose for us to allow the Trump Administration to botch this important decennial obligation. What the Trump Administration is requesting is not just alarming, it is an unconstitutional attempt to discourage an accurate census count.”

House and Senate Democrats last week introduced bills that would require more time and vetting before a new question could be added, and on Tuesday , Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, called for hearings on the citizenship question.

“I personally spoke with Secretary Ross about this issue, and I am very disappointed that he appears to be disregarding the views of Republican and Democratic experts—including six former Census Directors—and is instead rushing ahead with a politically-motivated decision that will jeopardize the full, fair, and accurate count our Constitution demands,” he said in a statement. “The Oversight Committee has jurisdiction over the Census, and I call on Chairman Gowdy to hold hearings as soon as possible on this issue, as well as other troubling examples of politicization at the Census Bureau under President Trump.”

In a statement announcing the multi-state suit, Schneiderman said, “The Trump Administration’s reckless decision to suddenly abandon nearly 70 years of practice by demanding to know the citizenship status of each resident counted cuts to the heart of this sacred obligation – and will create an environment of fear and distrust in immigrant communities that would make impossible both an accurate Census and the fair distribution of federal tax dollars. This move directly targets states like New York that have large, thriving immigrant populations –threatening billions of dollars in federal funding for New York as well as fair representation in Congress and the Electoral College.”

The Commerce Department, in a memorandum, portrayed the move as a way to better enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which protects minority population voting rights. Asking census respondents if they are citizens would help the government gather currently unavailable data on the population of people who are eligible to vote, the memorandum said.

Commerce Department officials said that a Census Bureau analysis failed to provide “definitive, empirical support” that adding a citizenship question would reduce response rates, producing the sort of undercount feared by Becerra.

[ The Trump administration is adding a citizenship question to the census. Here’s why that’s bad for Democrats. ]

“The Department of Commerce is not able to determine definitively how inclusion of a citizenship question on the decennial census will impact responsiveness,” Ross wrote in his memo. “However, even if there is some impact on responses, the value of more complete and accurate data derived from surveying the entire population outweighs such concerns.”

In an attempt to minimize any impact on response rates, Ross directed the Census Bureau to place the citizenship question last on the census form.

“The citizenship data provided” to the Justice Department as it reviews remapping for violations of voting rights “will be more accurate with the question than without it, which is of greater importance than any adverse effect that may result from people violating their legal duty to respond” to the census, Ross wrote.

Critics disputed the government’s claims that effects would be minimal. Former U.S. attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr., who serves as chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a statement that the decision could lead to “devastating, decade-long impacts on voting rights and the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding.”

“We will litigate to stop the Administration from moving forward with this irresponsible decision,” Holder wrote. “The addition of a citizenship question to the census questionnaire is a direct attack on our representative democracy.”

“Make no mistake — this decision is motivated purely by politics,” Holder added. “In deciding to add this question without even testing its effects, the Administration is departing from decades of census policy and ignoring the warnings of census experts.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement: “The Trump Administration’s late night announcement of a new citizenship question violates the clear constitutional mandate to provide an accurate count of all people living in the United States. This detrimental fear will inject fear and distrust into vulnerable communities, and cause traditionally undercounted communities to be even further under-represented, financially excluded and left behind.”

Indeed, the Commerce Department’s announcement was met with significant criticism from census experts on Monday night. Terri Ann Lowenthal, a census expert and former congressional staffer who worked on census oversight, called the move a mistake and predicted a number of legal challenges from advocacy groups.

“My biggest worry is the growing risk that public confidence in the census will drop significantly,” Lowenthal said. “Between evidence that the administration is manipulating the census for political gain, and fear that the administration will use the census to harm immigrants, confidence in the integrity of the count could plummet. And the census is only as good as the public’s willingness to participate.”

Former Census Bureau director Kenneth Prewitt said the decision “makes for a stormy situation given the unique visibility of the census.”

“We have no idea how the untested insertion of a citizenship question will affect public cooperation. My guess? We will have a less accurate census than the nation could have had,” Prewitt said.

The citizenship question will be similar to the one included since 2005 on the American Community Survey, which is sent annually to a sample of about 2.6 percent of the population. The Justice Department currently uses data from that survey to enforce the Voting Rights Act but says the data is “insufficient in scope, detail, and certainty” for use in identifying voting rights violations, Ross wrote.

The census regularly asked about citizenship between 1820 and 1950, when the question was removed. In December, the Justice Department requested that the Census Bureau reinstate the question in the 2020 census.

California would be hit particularly hard by the change because of its high proportion of foreign-born and undocumented residents, as Becerra’s lawsuit states.

“Undercounting the sizeable number of Californian non-citizens and their citizen relatives will imperil the State’s fair share of congressional seats and electoral college electors and will cost the State billions in federal funding over the next decade,” the attorney general’s lawsuit says.

In an opinion piece Monday in the San Francisco Chronicle, Becerra and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla described the move as “truly insidious” and an “extraordinary attempt by the Trump administration to hijack the 2020 census for political purposes.” An undercount, Becerra and Padilla argued, could jeopardize crucial community services such as homeland security funds, natural disaster preparation, and health care and infrastructure resources.

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund said the addition “would have catastrophic consequences for Latinos and all Americans.”

“The stakes are too high for a failed 2020 Census, and we will not sit idly by as those with [malicious] intentions seek to thwart a fair and accurate count of immigrants, Latinos and all Americans,” the organization said in a statement.

“The fight has just begun, and we will not stop until we have exhausted all avenues to provide the Census Bureau with the fix and certainty it needs to tackle its most ambitious task yet, counting the largest American population in history.”

Source: washingtonpost.com

Thousands of Canadian investors face being locked out of America should Trump terminate NAFTA. Since 2007, 20,406 Canadians have been granted E2 treaty visas allowing them to invest in the US, creating thousands of jobs for American workers in the process. However, if Trump abolishes NAFTA, it could spell the end of access to the E2 Treaty Investor visa and E1 Treaty Trader visa scheme for Canadian investors.  If this happens in many cases the only other visa left would be the L1 intra-company transfer visa.

Sanwar Ali workpermit.com comment:

We cannot predict the future. However, in practice I suspect that there will be too much opposition from both Republicans and Democrats to enable NAFTA to be abolished. The E2 visa scheme allows both investors and employees the ability to obtain US visas without worrying about quotas. The E2 visa can continue to be extended indefinitely as long as the business continues in the US. Indians and Chinese nationals cannot come under the scheme. Under the current Trump administration this is unlikely to change. They probably have to come under the L1 visa or H1B visa categories.

Despite urging foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the US at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, should Trump standby his threat to scrap NAFTA, and refuse to resurrect the former Canada-US bilateral agreement, Canada would have no trade agreement with the US and no access to E-2 visas.

E2 visas are only granted to citizens of countries that have a trade agreement with the US. Trump’s plans to terminate NAFTA come despite declaring America to be “open for business” during the gathering of world leaders in Davos. The US President said: “There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States.”

E2 Treaty Investor visa still available to other nations

While Canadian investors could find the E2 visa route blocked, the US would continue to offer the coveted visa to more than 80 other nations who have a trade agreement in place with America.

What the Canadian government finds bizarre is that, while Canadian investors could be denied access to E-2 visas, investors from Iran – with whom the US has a hostile relationship – will still have access to the visa. Canadian officials described the situation as ‘rather ludicrous.’

Amid NAFTA negotiations, the threat of Canadian investors losing access to the US E-2 visa has received little coverage. Canadian officials are said to be concerned about the future of its citizens hoping to invest in the US and said that the ‘loss of the Canadian E-2 visa program would result in needless damage to the US economy.’

Canadian investors create jobs

While anti-immigration groups accuse ‘all kinds of immigrants’ of stealing jobs from American workers, Canadian officials have backed its country’s investors investing in the US, stating that they ‘undoubtedly create jobs.’

Immigration lawyers in Toronto argue that ‘investors are indisputably job-makers, not job-takers. To get the E-2 visa, they need to demonstrate that their business can create a non-“marginal” benefit, which usually means showing they will hire Americans.’

Mexico may also be cut off from E2 visas

According to US government data, 20,406 Canadian investors and their families have been granted E-2 visas between 2007 and 2016, hitting a peak in 2016 when 3,004 were issued. Meanwhile, 21,603 US investor visas were issued to Mexicans during the same period.

With Mexico’s E-2 visa access dependent on NAFTA, Mexican investors also face being cut off from investment opportunities in the US.

According to Canadian immigration lawyers, ‘unlike other visas obtained by skilled professionals – including the much maligned H1B visa – President Trump has never criticized the E-2 investor visa.

David North, a researcher at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, which supports reduced US immigration, said: “You’re dealing with a highly non-controversial program as far as America is concerned. The use by Canadians isn’t much of a controversy — any controversy at all.”

Canada-US bilateral trade agreement could return

There’s a chance that President Trump could reinstate the Canada-US bilateral trade agreement, which was suspended following the introduction of NAFTA – a move that would preserve access to the E2 visa scheme for Canadian and Mexican investors.

However, Trump could just as easily scrap any trade deal with Canada altogether, in which case, investors would be swiftly forced out of the US. They would only be allowed to remain until their five-year E-2 visa expires or if Trump and Congress could agree a new law to protect them indefinitely.

Commentators say that scrapping NAFTA is far from guaranteed. According to several mainstream media outlets in the US, Trump’s NAFTA stance is softening.

Both E2 and E1 Treaty visa schemes dependent on NAFTA

There are rumours that the end of NAFTA could signal the end of access to the E1 visa for some Canadians and Mexicans involved in cross-border trade. The availability of the E-1 visa is subject to Canada and Mexico having a treaty agreement in place with the US.

According to official government data, since 2010, 3,304 Canadians and 8,971 Mexicans have been granted E1 visas. Meanwhile, a request for information submitted to Foreign Affairs Minister, Chrystia Freeland, has seen no response to determine whether E-1 or E-2 visas have been discussed as part of NAFTA negotiations.

 

Source: workpermit.com

The following is a statement from the Honourable Dr. Timothy Harris, prime minister and minister of finance, on the new options for the St. Kitts and Nevis CBI Programme:

Fellow Citizens and Residents:

Over the past several weeks, the federal government has been engaged in a consultative process with developers and other stakeholders to maintain the high quality of the CBI programme. To date, our programme has been a success.

This success is due to the hard work that we have invested in improving the programme since Team Unity took office about three years ago. We have improved the efficiency, enhanced its good governance, and insisted on high standards of due diligence. As a result, the St. Kitts and Nevis CBI programme is recognised throughout the world as the platinum standard.

St. Kitts and Nevis recently signed historic visa waiver agreements with Russia, India and Indonesia. Citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis enjoy visa-free entry to more than 140 countries, including Germany, France, Holland, Italy and the United Kingdom. This shows that our strategies are working and that the government should continue to develop its CBI platinum brand.

The Hurricane Relief Fund, which we launched in October 2017, has been well received by the market and has exceeded all expectations. A number of applications are still being processed.

We said at the time that the HRF was only temporary and would expire at the end of March 2018. We are now ready to announce its successor, as well as a revised real estate offering that will further invigorate our CBI programme.

A new fund called the Sustainable Growth Fund will be launched. The new fund will invest in sustainable areas benefitting every citizen and resident of St Kitts and Nevis, [such as] health care, education, alternative energy, heritage, infrastructure, tourism and culture, climate change and resilience, and the promotion of indigenous entrepreneurship.

The Sustainable Growth Fund for a single applicant will require a contribution of US$150,000, inclusive of government fees. The contribution for a family of up to four will be US$195,000, following incremental steps. We think this is attractive and sustainable.

We will retain the existing real estate investment option at US$400,000, plus US$75,000 in government fees. This investment can still be resold after five years. However, in order to attract luxury resort developments, there is now being proposed another option where real estate offerings that require a US$400,000 investment may attract two applicants at US$200,000 each, plus government fees. However, this can only be resold after seven years. We have given favourable consideration to the recommendation by real estate developers for existing developments to qualify for inclusion in the new option.

We will maintain our very high standards of integrity, rigour and robust due diligence. The due diligence standards of St. Kitts and Nevis are ranked among the highest in the world. St. Kitts and Nevis not only has the oldest citizenship-by-investment program in the world, but the most highly regarded. This success was endorsed by the 2018 Passport Index of Henley and Partners, which ranked our programme as No. 1 in the region.

Let me repeat: St. Kitts and Nevis is the platinum brand. We stand for integrity, rigour and robust due diligence. In fact, we continue to improve our due-diligence process and in the near future, we will be introducing biometrics, starting with applicants from high-risk countries. We shall continue to refine our programme and will continue to strengthen our platinum brand.

 

Source: thestkittsnevisobserver.com

The Investment Migration Council has submitted its response to the Consultation document issued by the OECD entitled ‘Preventing Abuse of Residency by Investment Schemes to Circumvent the CRS.’

The official response is made available freely in the following  link.

We take this opportunity to thank all our members who submitted theirs comments and those who took time to review the submission.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes made the announcement in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament.

Legally, the UK could only extend the controls for a final 2 years if there was clear evidence that removing the controls would lead to a serious labour market disturbance. The Government has considered the evidence and with unemployment at near record lows, employment of UK nationals at near record highs and the Eurozone and Croatia forecast to grow strongly over the next 2 years, concluded the economic case for an extension could not be made.

When Croatia joined the EU in 2013, the UK and other member states were able to restrict the access that Croatian citizens had to their labour markets for a maximum of 7 years. The UK is one of a few EU countries (Austria, Slovenia and the Netherlands) which applies such measures. The restrictions have meant that, unless an exemption applied, Croatians needed permission from the Home Office to work in the UK.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said:

This decision has not been taken lightly, but after careful consideration, we have concluded that there is not enough evidence to satisfy the legal requirements to extend the controls for the final 2 year period.

Net migration of EU citizens has fallen in the last year by 75,000 and since joining the EU in 2013 only around a few thousand Croatians have moved to the UK. Estimates suggest there are below 10,000 Croatian in the UK and by comparison, in 2009 at the same point of transitional controls for Romanian and Bulgarian workers there were around 57,000 Romanians and 35,000 Bulgarians living in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The time-limited restrictions to member states’ labour markets were provided for under the Treaty of Accession 2011 between Croatia and the EU and can be applied for five years, plus an additional two years if required to protect the member state’s labour market from serious disturbance.

Under the UK’s application of the restrictions, Croatian partners and spouses of British nationals or other nationals settled in the UK are exempt, as are Croatian citizens who have worked in the UK for 12 months with the appropriate authorisation.

Further information can be found in the guidance for Croatian nationals on working in the UK.

 

 

Source: gov.uk

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr the Honourable Timothy Harris, has today announced an international citizenship by investment summit expected to attract key industry stakeholders from around the world.

The Invest Caribbean Summit 2018 will be hosted by economic citizenship pioneers, St Kitts and Nevis, under the theme “Unity in the Age of Division, Emerging Trends of CIPs in an Uncertain World”, showcasing current practices within the growing industry, and what the future will hold for international stakeholders in an era of geopolitical turbulence.

To be hosted at the five-star St Kitts Marriott Resort from 16-19 May, the Summit will be attended by  Heads of State and Government officials from all five Caribbean citizenship by investment nations, international developers, marketing agents, service providers, diplomatic missions, and periphery industry stakeholders in banking, financial planning and technology.

Devised to stimulate discussion on the issues facing the burgeoning industry of second citizenship by investment, conference topics will address topics ranging from climate resilience, transparency versus confidentiality in the sector, and the adoption of new technologies such as blockchain.

CEO of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit, Les Khan, has encouraged international stakeholders to attend what has been described as a landmark event on the 2018 calendar:

“The Invest Caribbean Summit is not only relevant to our regional partners here in the Caribbean. From its inception the event has been designed to attract an international dialogue, and will include commentary from the most experienced and esteemed professionals in the investor-immigration landscape.

“The conversations and challenges the Caribbean region is facing, and has faced in the past, are not dissimilar to those seen on a global scale. This is a perfect opportunity for the industry to unite, and hold constructive debates on the issues of today, and the prospects of tomorrow.

“The Invest Caribbean Summit is an event for the future of second citizenship, from its very roots here in St Kitts.”

With new premium hotel destinations slated for development, coupled with glowing reviews from top publications Bloomberg and CNN, island tours will also be made available to showcase the investment opportunities available on the twin-island nation.

 

Source: ciu.gov.kn

Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, has reported that the Hurricane Relief Fund (HRF), introduced as a temporary investment option under the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme, has been a largely successful initiative undertaken by the Government following an active hurricane season last year.

The HRF was established in September 2017 as a third investment option, where the funds raised under this initiative will go towards the rehabilitation and reconstruction of key public infrastructure such as roads and buildings, which suffered damage during the passage of the two category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria.

Under the HRF, which is set to expire at the end of March 2018, foreign investors can make a non-refundable contribution of US$150,000.

Speaking at a meeting with real estate developers at the Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI) on Friday (March 9), Prime Minister Harris said the Government has received largely positive feedback from CBI agents locally and internationally regarding the Hurricane Relief Fund.

“What we have heard from all the players is that the Hurricane Relief Fund was the best thing to have ever happened to the market,” the Prime Minister said.

Dr. Harris continued, “We see concrete evidence in this in that the number of international marketing agents who came increased dramatically from November until now, and there have been nothing different about the programme except this [the Hurricane Relief Fund]. What we do know is that even some persons who had previously been critical of it have signed up and are now some of the largest players.”

Shortly after the introduction of the Hurricane Relief Fund, St. Kitts and Nevis was recognized internationally for offering the World’s Most Innovative Investment Immigration Programme.

This accolade was bestowed upon the Federation at the 2017 Russian Global Citizen Awards ceremony, held at Moscow’s prestigious Ritz Carlton Hotel. This annual event recognizes the best governments, companies and individuals who have excelled in investment, freedom of movement, and residence services.

 

Source: zizonline.com

Rich-listers such as Californian billionaire Ric Kayne have issued a warning to New Zealand – banning house sales to foreigners could hurt the country’s reputation and turn wealthy investors away.

Mr Kayne, who has built an exclusive golf course in New Zealand and wants to expand his investments, is one of several rich businessmen who claim the proposed new law will have unintended consequences. They’re seeking amendments to the draft legislation or its withdrawal in its current form.

“The vision we have for what we would like to contribute to New Zealand is now being threatened,” Mr Kayne wrote in submissions to a parliamentary committee examining the proposed law change. The new rules will “impact on us personally, and others like us who, having discovered this country, want to devote considerable resources to preserving, protecting and enhancing it.”

The new Labour-led government came to power in October on a pledge to fix a housing crisis with a raft of measures, including a ban on foreign speculators buying residential property. While data suggest non-residents have only a minor impact on the wider housing market, support for the move was boosted by headlines about rich foreigners buying mansions and farms in New Zealand as boltholes away from the world’s ills.

House prices have surged more than 60 per cent in the past decade amid record immigration and a construction shortfall. In the biggest city of Auckland, prices have almost doubled since 2007 to an average of more than NZ$1 million ($730,000). That has made it more difficult for first-time buyers to enter the market and driven up rents, leaving increasing numbers of poor people homeless.

“It’s really important for us that we sort our housing market out, that we give New Zealanders a fair go at buying their first home,” finance minister Grant Robertson said in an interview this week. While the country welcomes foreign investment, “what we want is good-quality investment that supports the productivity of the New Zealand economy,” he said.

The proposed law, which the government says will bring New Zealand into line with neighboring Australia, will classify residential land as “sensitive,” meaning non-residents or non-citizens can’t purchase existing dwellings without the consent of the Overseas Investment Office. While it allows non-resident foreigners to invest in new construction, it forces them to sell once the homes are built.

 

Source: thenational.ae

Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet, has said that Saint Lucia supports the idea of the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) being run out of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

He suggested that the sub-region could find a way to share funds and have one common standard.

‘In the absence of it being run out of the OECS, Saint Lucia continues to lobby the other countries to agree on a common pricing structure as well as a common standard as it pertains to  the due diligence,’ Chastanet disclosed.

According to the Saint Lucia Prime Minister, this country is achieving the highest standards that it can even when it comes at a cost to the local CIP initiative.

‘We have had situations where some applications have taken in excess of 200 days to get approval,’ he observed.

He explained that with the aid of law enforcement, the process has been  significantly streamlined without lowering standards.

‘But I am hoping that there will be one common standard for all the  countries of the OECS – and let me remind you that when we have these programmes, not only are we affecting our own border, but because  of the regional agreements it’s an OECS border. It is a CARICOM border. Because of our relationships with Europe, it is a European border, it’s a Canadian border and it is a US border,’ Chastanet told reporters.

‘Certainly Saint Lucia goes into this programme every day understanding the burden that is upon us to make sure that we have a high enough wall in order to protect all the people that have entrusted their trust with Saint Lucia and we are hoping that everybody is going to do the same thing,’ he stated.

 

Source: stluciatimes.com

The East African nation is, for the first time in history, is allowing non-Tanzanian residents to invest in property on the tropical island.

This, coupled with strong economic growth, is expected to boost the property market this year.

According to a 2017 Africa Report by Knight Frank, Tanzania is one of a small group of African nations to have maintained GDP growth in excess of 5% in 2016, as it is an importer of commodities, and so benefited from low oil prices as well as growth in private consumption and investment.

Large scale investment
Global Property Guide reports that Tanzania is experiencing large scale investment and development in real estate projects for residential, industrial and commercial purposes.

One such development is the Blue Amber Resort by Pennyroyal Zanzibar Ltd, which is set to be the largest resort in Africa.

Initially launched as Zanzibar Amber Resort in early 2017, the mixed use development spans 411 hectares of Indian Ocean Coastline. Upon completion, the luxury resort will boast five international hotels – including the Ritz Carlton and Anantara Hotels – as well as East Africa’s first signature 18-hole golf course designed by professional golfer and former world number one Ernie Els, and deep water mooring on the marina. It will also house a water park, underwater restaurant and nightclub.

Blue Amber will also offer both Tanzanian and non-Tanzanian residents an opportunity to invest in premium residential property in Zanzibar.

The first residential phase, comprising 47 double-storey villas set in a secure private estate with sweeping views of the ocean, lakes or golf course, is under construction and is expected to be complete by 2020.

Non-Tanzanian residents will be eligible to buy property within the luxury community on 99-year leases with the option to extend ownership by 49 years, says Saleh Said, managing director of the Blue Amber Resort.

Prices for villas in phase one of the Blue Amber Resort start from US$672,000. For investors, the property in luxury surroundings is likely to deliver returns in line with or in excess of that in Tanzania’s capital city of Dar es Salaam.

Knight Frank data shows that four-bedroom executive houses in prime locations within the capital garnered prime rental prices of US $4 500 per month and prime yields of 6%.

Tax benefits for property owners
An investment is Blue Amber Zanzibar also offers significant tax benefits for property owners, including a tax rate of 15% earned on local income and no tax on worldwide income, this is realized by the development’s status as a strategic investment project. Property owners will also benefit from not having to pay capital gains tax, stamp duty or inheritance tax on properties purchased.

In addition, property owners – along with spouses and children under 25 years of age – are also eligible for residence permits in Zanzibar, with residency status valid for as long as investors remain property owners.

 

Source: internationalinvestment.net