Premier and Minister for Financial Services and Commerce André Ebanks MP travelled to Washington, D.C., and Chicago this month to reinforce the Cayman Islands' position as a leading international financial centre and strengthen relationships with key United States government, regulatory and industry stakeholders.

In Chicago, Ebanks participated in meetings and industry events focused on insurance, investment funds and professional services, highlighting Cayman’s regulatory framework and its role in facilitating global investment.

The visit followed earlier meetings in Washington with U.S. government, congressional, regulatory and financial services officials, including representatives from the U.S. Departments of the Treasury and State. The trip formed part of the Cayman Islands Government's ongoing outreach to strengthen international partnerships and support the long-term competitiveness of the jurisdiction's financial services industry.

Meetings in Washington

In the U.S. Premier met U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with talks centred on Cayman’s role as a well-regulated Cayman Islands financial centre and on areas of mutual interest, including private credit and reinsurance.

At the State Department, discussions covered anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing matters. The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority also held technical discussions with the Federal Insurance Office on supervisory, reinsurance and financial services regulation issues. Those talks were part of the wider effort to align Cayman’s regulatory framework with U.S. priorities in financial oversight and market stability, according to the government.

The Premier said the discussions underlined Cayman’s standing in the market and Cayman’s ability to work with major international partners.

Chicago talks widened the agenda

In Chicago, Ebanks met government officials, regulators and private-sector representatives as the Cayman Islands sought to deepen economic and financial services relationships with Illinois. The meetings focused on insurance, reinsurance, investment funds and professional services, but they also reached into trade development, clean energy, health care operations, public transportation, education exchanges and infrastructure financing.

A key stop was a meeting with Illinois Department of Insurance Director Ann Gillespie and agency staff. Discussions centred on insurance and reinsurance markets, regulatory cooperation and other matters of mutual interest to both jurisdictions. For Cayman, these conversations were relevant because the islands remain closely tied to global insurance and reinsurance activity, and changes in the U.S. market can affect business, regulation and client demand at home.

Ebanks also met Illinois Economic Development Corporation Chairman John Atkinson and President and CEO Christy George. The government said the talks extended beyond financial services and covered the possibility of wider practical cooperation between the two places. That included areas such as infrastructure financing and investment links, as well as sectors that could support future business connections.

During the visit, Illinois Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Christy George, Premier André Ebanks and Chairman John Atkinson discussed broad areas for collaboration. The government did not give further detail on any immediate agreements. It also did not say whether the meetings produced any follow-up work, written commitments or a timetable for next steps.

Industry voices and law firm meetings

Ebanks also attended a breakfast event hosted by Cayman Finance and KPMG, where industry representatives discussed market trends and developments affecting the financial services sector. The Premier said the exchange helped reinforce Cayman’s reputation as a trusted international partner and gave insight into issues shaping the market.

The schedule also included meetings with several Chicago-based law firms that do business related to the Cayman Islands, including Kirkland & Ellis, Sidley Austin, Morgan Lewis and Mayer Brown. Those discussions covered market conditions, client needs and opportunities involving insurance, investment funds, corporate services and alternative investment structures.

With Senior Policy Advisor Razaak Busari and Deputy Chief Officer Michele Bahadur also present for part of the Chicago programme, the Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce used the trip to hear directly from firms and advisers that work with Cayman structures every day. That kind of engagement matters at home because it helps government understand where the market is changing and where policy or regulation may need to stay competitive and clear.

Why the trip matters for Cayman

The government said the visit was part of a broader U.S. outreach effort aimed at maintaining and expanding international relationships that support the Cayman Islands’ financial services industry. The U.S. remains a major economic partner, and the meetings in Washington and Chicago were designed to keep Cayman visible in conversations about regulation, insurance, reinsurance and cross-border financial activity.

The government said the value of such visits lay in the long-term health of a sector that supports jobs, public revenue and business confidence. The talks did not announce new policy changes, and the government said they were intended to sustain Cayman’s international relationships.

The government did not say when any next round of talks would take place, but it indicated that the outreach effort would continue. For now, the message from the trip was that the Cayman Islands financial services centre aimed to remain trusted and well-regulated while also looking for practical partnerships beyond the sector itself.