André Ebanks has concluded a nine-day east Asia engagement tour aimed at strengthening the Cayman Islands’ ties with the region’s financial services sector.
The premier visited Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo to reinforce business relationships, provide updates on Cayman’s regulatory and financial services framework, and establish new connections in key Asian markets.
He was accompanied by Gene DaCosta, the Cayman Islands Government overseas representative to Asia, and Sean Whewell, Cabinet Office international affairs analyst.
Ebanks, who is also Cayman’s minister for financial services and commerce, arrived in Hong Kong on 7 May, where he met with government representatives, private equity groups and hedge fund managers.
He then flew to Shanghai and met with a range of financial services and business stakeholders, including representatives from CITIC Group, Vistra and Han Kun, along with the British Chamber of Commerce in China and the British Consul General in Shanghai.
Discussions focused on developments in the financial services industry, innovation and regulatory matters relevant to the Asian market, as well as maintaining business relationships with clients and industry partners.
The visit also included a reception hosted by offshore law firm Appleby’s Shanghai office, where members of the local professional community gathered to highlight Cayman’s long-standing connections with the city.
The final stop on the trip was Tokyo, where the premier attended a series of high-level meetings with major Japanese financial institutions.
Posting on LinkedIn after the visit, he wrote: “These institutions continue to be valued partners, utilising Cayman Islands financial services products to assist with international investment.”
He added that the relationships were built on “years of mutual respect and a shared commitment to high standards”.
Ebanks also delivered a keynote address at the 2026 AIMA Japan Annual Forum.
“The honour was ours to share the agenda with industry leaders and officials to discuss the evolving landscape of alternative investments and how the Cayman Islands remains at the forefront of financial services innovation,” he wrote on LinkedIn.
Speaking about the Asia tour, the premier said in a government press release: “We remain committed to building bridges and creating new opportunities for the Cayman Islands on the global stage.”
