your business is their business “Other jurisdictions have been very interested in the service we are giving,” said Dustin Orfila, “including the Government of Bermuda.” The InvestGibraltar Office is an integral part of the Department of Enterprise & Development, which helps would-be businesspeople, whether local or from abroad, to realise their plans — or, when necessary, to advise them that their idea is not realistic. Having spoken to Julian Baldachino, who heads the InvestGibraltar Office, and his executives Dustin Orfila and Javier Redondo, I soon came to the conclusion that everybody who wants to open a business in Gibraltar should go and see them first. Their job is to clear the way, to make sure you know all you need to know about any forms that have to be filled in and licences that might have to be sought, how to create a business plan, where to find a lawyer or accountant; in short, the lot. Julian told me their job isn’t just a matter of handing out some literature — although they have produced a fully comprehensive free 39 page guide which covers just about everything anyone could want to know about the subject. However, it’s not just a matter of handing out the right brochures and saying ‘good luck.’ “When someone has been to see us for advice or information, we follow it up with a phone call a couple of weeks later to see how they are getting on, in case they have come up against a hurdle they think is insurmountable. Sometimes it is just a case of their having lost their impetus, but in many cases our follow-up call prompts them into action,” said Julian. My impression of InvestGibraltar was that it is a friendly, efficient and informal department whose three executives are quick thinking and thoroughly familiar with the information they need to dispense. They are certainly the complete opposite of the old style grumpy, slow moving civil servant, thankfully now almost extinct. The Office has been running since June 2004, and was the brainchild of Minister Joe Holliday. “One of the first things he did when he took over the then Department of Trade & Industry was to establish this service,” said Julian. “He wanted a one-stop shop for investors and startups that would also look at the way Gibraltar’s systems work with a view to making recommendations for change.” Now their remit includes marketing Gibraltar to the outside world as a good place to do business, as well as helping existing businesses to develop. In the latter case, the growth is demonstrated by the fact they are hoping to take on a Business Development Officer later this year. Since the beginning the number of people using the service has accelerated. Last year the Office had meetings with 71 potential investors and dealt with over 400 email and telephone enquiries (almost double that of the year before). As a result, 14 new businesses started up in the fields of Tourism, Financial Services and E-Commerce, Trade & E-Trade, and other miscellaneous areas. It could well be that more startups will follow this year as a result of last year’s enquiries, as some businesses, such as Gaming and Maritime Services, take longer to establish than others. “Our success in attracting people to come here to see us is the result of our marketing of Gibraltar PLC and creating awareness of the Office itself,” said Dustin. “Word-of-mouth recommendations are also increasingly playing their part.” Another advantage of dealing with the InvestGibraltar Office is that it is a government office that liaises with other government departments. Julian explained that he and his team can often speed up the time taken to get a business going by using the network they have established with other parts of the civil service. “But we don’t act as a substitute for other departments, such as the GTB and the Finance Centre,” he said. “We do complement them, though, and work with them for the common good — such as accompanying them on a road show, for instance.” The process for anyone thinking of establishing or expanding a business in Gibraltar who comes to see the InvestGibraltar Office is very straightforward: there is a short form to complete; then Javier, Dustin or Julian will listen to what you have to say and advise accordingly; then there is the follow-up call to see how they are progressing. “We encourage them to look seriously and realistically at their idea,” Javier added. “Some are daunted by that, but others take it further. The after-service is vitally important, as it is the way we find out about any obstacles that we might be able to help with. We do tend to hold their hand, as far as they want us to. As well as the bigger businesses, such as Gaming, we would love to be able to encourage more craftsmanship and cottage industries to develop amongst local people, but there is no point in encouraging a business that we consider won’t survive. We are very frank in that respect.” The InvestGibraltar Office is on the top floor of Block 7 at Europort. The Office’s direct telephone number is 200 52634, fax 200 52635; email info@investgibraltar.gov.gi. Meanwhile, you can get the full story from the website www.gibraltar.gov.gi.

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