Armand Arton has long been calling for the introduction of a levy on investment migration programmes to source funding for humanitarian assistance and development projects that can help address the wider causes of migration. As the industry is reaching maturity, “we have the opportunity to do things right,” Arton writes.

For the past four years, I have been reviewing most of the world’s business migration schemes. Every year I analysed and dissected 100 such programmes for our database and our reports. All that knowledge enabled us to understand trends in the industry, mechanisms behind the programmes, and which nationals are drawn to what programme.

Titan of industry is not a term that is easily attributed. Austin Fragomen could lay claim to this title, but it is certainly nothing he would ascribe to himself. However, with more than 4,200 employees, offices in almost 30 countries and a ranking as one of the top 60 legal firms in the US, it is a title that sits easily with someone of his calibre.

Civil unrest, visa-free travel and statelessness are just a few of the reasons behind the recent uptake in applications for citizenship and residency by investment (CRBI). S-RM analyst Sonia Spencer explains the current environment around these sought-after programmes.

The migration debate is complex and emotional. Investment migration only accounts for a small part of worldwide migration, yet the industry has the potential to help shape a more productive discussion.

Report: IM Yearbook 2019/2020 Media: Investment Migration Yearbook 2019/2020 Sector: Investment Migration Publication Date: June 2019 Simon Anholt, Adviser and Publisher of the Good Country Index Make a Real Global Impact Simon Anholt says the investment migration [...]