Richard Branson to Be Honored at NYC Emerging Market Investment Forum

Is the Caribbean the next China, India or Brazil? Find out this June as the Caribbean's most talked about investment forum that brings together several ministers of governments with investors in one room, returns to New York City during Caribbean American Heritage Month in the United States.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012, which will honor world renowned business leader, Sir Richard Branson with the 2012 Leadership Award for his commitment to the Caribbean, is set for June 6, 2012 from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, 1535 Broadway in Times Square, organizers say.

The power forum, a partnership between digital media company, Hard Beat Communications and the Caribbean Tourism Organization during Caribbean Week in NYC, will include as this year's panelists: Jonathan S. Blue, Chairman & Managing Director, Blue Equity, LLC. and CEO of Cool Petroleum; Jay Yeo, President, Solamon Energy Corp.; Lisa Lake, Chief Development Director, Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship - Caribbean; Jean Arnell, vice president of the French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce, Hon. Minister of Tourism of St. Kitts and Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Ricky Skerritt; and an official of the US Department of Commerce's International Trade Commission.

Richard Branson is being honored for his commitment to the Caribbean through The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship - Caribbean and for his lifetime of entrepreneurship, and his inspirational leadership.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 is the place to be to find out what is happening in the Caribbean right now and what is emerging for the future. The forum comes as Chinese investment in the Caribbean continues to boom in this free trade emerging market economy that is politically stable and boosts a highly literate work force and an established tourism market, and which the International Monetary Fund and World Bank forecast will see a 3.5 percent growth into 2013, higher than the economies of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and similar to those of East Asia.

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 sponsors are The French Saint Martin Chamber of Commerce, (CCISM), and One Caribbean Television while supporting sponsors include the PR Newswire, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now and Damoola Inc.