Good morning, 

Thank you all for being here today as we embark on yet another initiative aimed at  capitalizing on the tremendous opportunities presented by the U.S. Virgin Islands’  strategic location, particularly in the development of our “blue economy.”  

From the very beginning of my administration, I have emphasized the importance of harnessing the potential of our maritime resources. In my first State of the Territory  Address, I said, “For too long, we have governed with our backs to the water.” Today’s signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is another step forward in ensuring that we turn toward the water and take full advantage of the economic benefits that lie within our reach. 

Today’s partnership with Connect Caribe, a subsidiary of Pleion Group Inc. of  Barbados, represents a major move in our administration’s strategy to grow the territory’s blue economy and tap into the vast transshipment opportunities that exist in this region. Through this MoU, we are taking deliberate actions to position the U.S.  Virgin Islands—and particularly St. Croix—as a key player in regional trade and logistics, with the goal of making St. Croix a trade logistics hub that will not only benefit our territory but also the wider Caribbean. 

This initiative is aligned with another key policy my administration has championed— the development of the South Shore Trade Zone. I was proud to support and sign into law legislation that created this vital economic zone, designed to provide businesses with the environment and infrastructure they need to grow and thrive. The  South Shore Trade Zone was created to make opportunities like the one we are beginning to explore today a reality—helping St. Croix become a real economic driver for the territory. This zone opens up the kinds of possibilities that are critical to making us leaders in the blue economy and ensuring that our people can benefit from new and diverse economic opportunities. 

Through this MoU, the Government of the Virgin Islands and Connect Caribe are committed to fostering direct and effective business relations between our respective business communities. We will facilitate ongoing business-to-business meetings on a reciprocal basis, ensuring that Virgin Islands businesses—particularly those on St.  Croix—have the opportunity to collaborate with their Caribbean counterparts. 

Together, we will also work to promote mutual trade across a wide range of sectors,  from Economic Development, Transportation and Supply Chain Logistics,  Innovation & Technology, Research and Development, Manufacturing,  Agriculture, Energy, Education and Training, Healthcare, and Workforce  Development, to Sports, Tourism, Capital Markets, and Foreign Direct Investment.  These sectors represent the future of economic growth for St. Croix, the broader Virgin  Islands, and the Caribbean as a whole. 

One of the most exciting aspects of this partnership is the shared vision of creating a trade logistics hub in St. Croix, utilizing the boat network of Connect Caribe to distribute cargo throughout the Caribbean faster and more economically. With our strategic location, St. Croix is uniquely positioned to become the center of this network, facilitating the efficient movement of goods and boosting our region’s overall  economic competitiveness. 

This MoU also commits us to engage businesses from both the Virgin Islands and the  Caribbean to pursue joint ventures, both within our regions and in third-party countries.  This kind of partnership will drive innovation, investment, and sustainable growth in ways that will benefit our people and the region for years to come. 

We are also committed to organizing trade missions and conducting market research, identifying emerging opportunities and challenges, and eliminating barriers  to trade that could impede the continuous flow of goods and services. We are here to make sure that businesses in St. Croix and the wider Virgin Islands have the tools and support they need to succeed and thrive. 

This partnership is yet another example of how we are leveraging the resources of  St. Croix to drive economic growth for the entire territory. I believe this is a critical step toward creating a prosperous future, one that offers more opportunities and a higher quality of life for all Virgin Islanders. 

I would like to thank Connect Caribe and Pleion Group Inc., as well as our partners in government and the private sector, for their dedication and commitment to making this agreement a reality. Together, we are laying the foundation for a trade network that will uplift our economies, create jobs, and strengthen the bonds between our people— turning St. Croix into a true hub for regional trade and economic activity. Thank you, and I look forward to seeing this partnership flourish.