U.K. billionaire Sir Richard Branson is one of many gearing up to address the Caribbean region on how to ‘Prepare for New Global Opportunity’ at the 2012 BVI Business Outlook this week.

The Virgin Group Chairman and several experts from around the region will meet at Scrub Island in the British Virgin Islands on January 18, 2012 to outline new opportunities for the Caribbean in a shaky global environment.

Organizer Russell Harrigan said countries in the region cannot just sit back and hope to survive.

“It is very important to prepare,” he explained.  “I think for small economies such as the BVI and others in the region you have to compete for your living in this environment because there are opportunities out there that we’ve got to take advantage of.

“Someone like Richard Branson, who operates on a global level, has a unique position to speak to where he sees opportunities and I think he will bring that to the table and narrow it down to the BVI and the Caribbean, which will provide good insight.”

Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith will give opening remarks on re-energizing the local economy and the government’s economic agenda.

There will also be panels on The Financial Services Sector – The Next Ten Years; Thinking outside the box and China’s increasing investment in the Caribbean – is this a strategic opportunity for the BVI?, Preparing our Human Capital for the 21^st Century; The Mega Yacht Sector – realizing our potential; The direction of the upper end of the global tourism market and Global challenges facing the Offshore sector.

The slate of presenters also include Executive Director of the Caribbean Council David Jessop, President and CEO of American Express Publishing Corporation Ed Kelly, Senior Fellow of The Cato Institute Daniel j. Mitchell, Director of Government Affairs at the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Brian Garst, Business Development Manager at Mergermarket Kevin Malone, CEO of LGS and Associates Lorna Smith, Managing Director of the BVI Airport Authority Denniston Fraser, Proprietor of MVW International Myron Walwyn and Chairman of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum Jerry Christopher Butler, among other speakers.