Current members

Members currently comprise Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Malaysia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Turks & Caicos Islands and Vanuatu. The Commonwealth Secretariat, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, CARICOM Secretariat and Caribbean Development Bank and Eastern Caribbean Development Bank have been granted formal observer status.

The Chair is held by Barbados, which is hosting the ITIO Secretariat in its Ministry of Industry of Economic Development. Regional offices so far established include Barbados for the Caribbean region, Labuan (Malaysia) for the Asian region and The Cook Islands for the Pacific region..

Joining the ITIO

Any country or jurisdiction may apply to the ITIO Secretariat to join the ITIO. They should be able to demonstrate an interest in the following:

• Pursuing cooperation between small and developing economies   (SDEs) on international tax and investment matters.

• Exploring the development implications of tax and investment    challenges.

International organisations sharing the ITIO's interests may apply to the ITIO Secretariat for observer status.

The ITIO intends to seek private sector input into its activities.

Membership benefits - what the members think

At the ITIO's meeting in Vanuatu on 4-6 February 2002, members were asked to identify the benefits that ITIO membership had brought them. This is what they said:

• Creation of informal networks for exchanging information between members;
• Development of common talking points and positions for members' use;
• Getting common concerns about international initiatives taken more seriously by multilateral institutions;
• Regular and timely supply of information from the ITIO Secretariat;
• Enhancement of individual members' decision-making capacity; and
• Greater attention paid to the members' issues - and those of small and developing economies as a whole - by speaking with a united voice to organisations and the media.