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On Wednesday, April 23rd, the Global Chamber® hosted a vibrant Caribbean Meetup, bringing together business leaders, legal experts, and investors to discuss the evolving landscape of Puerto Rico as a premier destination for international business and investment.
🎥 Watch the Recording: HERE
Puerto Rico Presented as a Premier Business Destination
Karen Mojica of Invest Puerto Rico opened the session with an insightful presentation on why Puerto Rico continues to attract global attention. She outlined the island’s strategic geographic location, its diverse and growing economy, and its highly skilled, bilingual workforce. Mojica also highlighted Puerto Rico’s competitive edge through its unique tax incentives and its advantageous position as a U.S. jurisdiction with the flexibility to offer tailored business benefits. Sectors such as biosciences, aerospace, energy, and tech were noted as growing rapidly.
Understanding Business Structures and Tax Incentives
Attorney Marisel Valentín provided an in-depth look at the types of business entities available in Puerto Rico, including corporations and LLCs. She explained the tax landscape, particularly the Puerto Rico Incentives Code (Act 60), which offers substantial benefits such as a 4% corporate tax rate, tax-free dividends, and sector-specific incentives. Marisel also touched on the Individual Resident Investor Program, which grants tax exemptions on passive income for those who relocate to Puerto Rico.
Legal and Strategic Advantages
The session featured additional insights from Jaime Rivera from Saiber Law, and Braulio Nieves from Pariter Wealth Management. Jaime emphasized the legal framework and strategic advantages of operating in Puerto Rico, particularly for industries like gaming. He also underlined the ease of expanding into the U.S. market through a Puerto Rico base. Braulio shared his professional journey and his role in fostering the financial services sector on the island. With over 25 years in the industry, he highlighted the island’s strong potential for growth in private equity and wealth management.
Financial Sector Growth and Investment Opportunities
Braulio’s experience illustrated the momentum in Puerto Rico’s financial services sector. He spoke about the increase in local private equity funds and the influx of skilled professionals being drawn by attractive incentives. He also noted the synergy between tax incentives and real estate tax credits, pointing to Puerto Rico as a fertile ground for investment despite existing infrastructure hurdles.
Leveraging Tax Benefits for Global Businesses
Throughout the session, the presenters emphasized that companies from anywhere in the world can benefit from Puerto Rico’s tax structure by establishing operations on the island and offering eligible services. Karen reiterated the value of Puerto Rico for nearshoring and reshoring, while Marisel explained the flexible tax treatment options available to foreign corporations and flow-through entities.
Addressing Key Challenges
The panel did not shy away from discussing the hurdles. Challenges such as the impact of hurricanes, high energy costs, and relatively high labor expenses were acknowledged. Karen and Braulio both underscored the lack of international awareness about Puerto Rico’s unique value proposition. Jaime also pointed to excessive regulations as a limiting factor for growth. However, the panel concluded with optimism, noting emerging opportunities in the creative arts and the rising potential of the “silver economy” catering to Puerto Rico’s aging population.
Moderators:
César Trabanco - Vice President of Business Services at Global Chamber®.
With over a decade of administrative, operational and leadership experience in different types of environments that range from international non-profit organizations to private corporations, Cesar has focused on international business and trade with significant input to the service sector. Specifically, he has worked on market development and service management for Latin America and Europe.
Cesar's work with Global Chamber® has allowed him to interact a lot more with markets like Asia, Africa and North America as collectively the team is in process to build the first truly global business community. Back in Puerto Rico, his main goal is to put the island on the map of global business and to open more opportunities for the improvement of the economy there during the years to come.
Jo Spalburg - Multi-Lingual & Multi-Cultural Marketing and Communications Professional, Expert in Travel/Tourism & Media Distribution
Jo Spalburg is a professional, multi-cultural and multi-lingual marketing consultant, who gained more than 30 years of international sales & marketing experience, while based in 9 different countries on 3 different continents. Spalburg occupied various sales & marketing positions, based at Headquarters, Regional and Local level, for international hospitality and travel companies, including the Air France Group, Golden Tulip Hotels, Hilton International, ITT Sheraton, Renaissance Cruises, Steigenberger Reservations Centre, South Seas Resorts and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, as well as many
other independent properties. He also served the public sector, working for a number of National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) as Director of Marketing Europe for almost seven years, before starting to work as an independent marketing
consultant in 2003.
He subsequently worked on strategic marketing plans for a variety of global destinations (including Abu Dhabi, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Mozambique, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Singapore, and Suriname), while employed by Howarth International France, Tourism Intelligence International (Germany), Emerging Markets Group (EMG) Ltd (UK), International Travel Communications (New Jersey, USA), Instituto de Qualidad (QI) (Spain) and the VIP Consulting group (FWI) respectively. Most recently he also worked as marketing consultant for the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) in Barbados.
After creating Media Partners International (MPI) in 2003 to promote European products and services in the Americas, in particular the Caribbean. Subsequently, he founded Caribbean Media Partners (CMP) in 2012 to enhance the distribution and promotion of Caribbean content, including news, audio-visual productions and any other content for both broadcast and print/new media. CMP is the only agency covering the greater Caribbean in all languages of the region (i.e. Créole, English, Español, Français, Nederlands, Papiamentu &; Português). Spalburg is also a founding member and secretary general of the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe
(CCCE) since 2019.
Spalburg was born in the Netherlands, where he graduated from the Hotel Management School Maastricht, and he holds an MBA in Hospitality Management from CORNELL/ESSEC (IMHI, France). He speaks 6 languages, including Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish, as well as Italian.
Speakers:
MARISEL VALENTÍN-MÁRQUEZ, ESQ., CPA, LL.M, Managing Member, Valerm Law Group
Attorney Valentín-Márquez is the Managing Member of Valerm Law Group, LLC a corporate and tax practice focused on assisting international and domestic clients in mergers and acquisitions, tax incentives & tax credits, complex business structuring, and estate planning for high net worth individuals.
From 2016 through 2019, as a Junior Partner in Pellot-González Attorneys & Counselors at Law, P.S.C., Attorney Valentín-Márquez was part of the management group for the corporate and tax division. Among her transactional experience, in the year 2019, she led negotiations resulting in the acquisition of El Conquistador Hotel & Resort by local investors. Attorney Valentín-Márquez had joined the firm as a tax and corporate lawyer in 2011.
From 2008 through 2011, Attorney Valentín-Márquez assisted national and international clients as a Senior Tax Consultant, and later on as a Tax Consulting Manager in BDO Puerto Rico. She had joined BDO Puerto Rico as a Tax Consultant in the year 2006. Attorney Valentín-Marquez has previous experience as a Financial Analyst for the Mergers and Acquisition Division of Banco Popular of Puerto Rico.
Attorney Valentín-Márquez was admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 2006 and obtained and LLM degree in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in 2008. In 2003, she obtained her license as a Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Attorney Valentín-Márquez is a regular speaker and columnist on entrepreneurial and tax matters.
Jaime Rivera-Emmanuelli, Esq. - Member at Saiber LLC
He advises casinos, gaming manufacturers, interactive online gaming operators, technology providers, and sportsbook operators on a broad range of corporate, regulatory, and compliance matters. He plays a key role in guiding clients through the expanding gaming markets in the United States and Latin America.
Additionally, he is instrumental in assisting European and North American gaming operators with their entry into the Caribbean, Central American, and South American markets. Beyond gaming-related matters, he also provides non-gaming legal and administrative consulting services, ensuring comprehensive support for his clients.
Karen Mojica Franceschi - Director of Stakeholder Affairs at Invest Puerto Rico
Attorney Karen Mojica Franceschi is the Director of Stakeholder Affairs at Invest Puerto Rico. Before this role, Mojica served as Business Development Director for the organization and was responsible for Foreign Direct Investment efforts across various industry sectors, such as Advanced Manufacturing, Tech, Professional Services, Life Sciences, Hospitality, and others. Ms. Mojica has helped attract companies like Aurobindo Pharma and Prodapt Networking Solutions, committing over 1,500 new jobs and more than $165M in foreign direct investment for the island. In her current role, Mojica manages Invest Puerto Rico’s relations with key stakeholder groups on and off the island. In the past, Mojica held key positions at Discover Puerto Rico, the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, and the Office of Incentives. Before her career in Economic Development, she dedicated 20 years to media communications as editor-in-chief of print and digital publications and as an on-air TV presenter and reporter.
She received her B.A. in Journalism and Public Relations and her Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico. She is currently pursuing the certified economic development professional designation.
Braulio Nieves Román - BNR Capital LLC/Pariter Wealth Management Group LLC
BNR Capital LLC is a consulting firm established in 2019 by Braulio Nieves Román. Mr. Nieves is a highly experienced investment advisor based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a professional career spanning 24 years. His expertise primarily focuses on advising clients on business planning, investment strategies, retirement planning, and financial planning. He has a solid foundation in understanding financial markets, financial products, and risk management, demonstrating a strong ability to help clients achieve their financial goals through sound advice and effective portfolio management.
His career includes roles such as a Registered Investment Advisor and Securities Principal at Pariter Wealth Management Group and Pariter Securities LLC, respectively. Throughout his career, Mr. Nieves has been responsible for the creation and implementation of business. investment and tax planning strategies for high-net-worth individuals, institutional clients, and business owners.
Braulio Nieves holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Puerto Rico. He is well-certified in the investment advisory field, holding multiple financial certifications, including Series 6, Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, and Series 24, which qualify him to engage in various investment activities and supervisory roles. His skills encompass a wide range of areas including business planning, investment strategies, retirement planning, wealth management, tax planning, and client relationship management.
Braulio Nieves Román has been affiliated with several prestigious organizations throughout his career. He is actively involved with the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, where he is a member of the Board of Directors and participates in various committees including finance, banking, technology, PYMES (small and medium-sized enterprises), and real estate. He is also a member of Centro Unido De Detallistas de PR (CUD). He was also the president of the Association for Financial Professionals, PR chapter (AFPPR) for the year 2017-2018.
Additionally, Mr. Nieves holds memberships in several other important associations such as the Government Blockchain PR, Investment Program Association (IPA), Investment Adviser Association, Alternative & Direct Investment Securities Association (ADISA), Minority Business Development Agency, PE Hub Network, Florida Alternative Investment Association, and Red Internacional de Negocios (RIN). He is also part of the editorial board of Real Assets magazine, which specializes in investment in real assets, and serves on the investment committee for Saint John's school. Furthermore, he is involved with Mujer Emprende Latina, a non-profit organization in Puerto Rico aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among women.
About Global Chamber
Global Chamber® is a diverse, innovative and positive worldwide platform for CEOs, executives, investors and industry leaders across 195 countries and 525 regions around the world to find opportunities and effectively empower growth, success and progress. We're the only chamber of commerce operating in hundreds of locations that delivers strategic connections, information and resources to facilitate exporting, importing and investing across regions and borders, while addressing climate change and advancing sustainability. Be global and UNSTOPPABLE! Global Chamber® is a registered trademark of Global Chamber, LLC since 2014.
