Up Close & Personal with Armand Arton

What spurred your initial interest and passion for the citizenship by investment industry?

My passion for the industry is deeply rooted in my personal journey. I was born in communist Bulgaria in 1976 before relocating to Morocco as a child with my parents. In an era before the Schengen Area existed, our travels involved navigating through 14 different countries, each with its own visa requirements and bureaucratic hurdles. We were treated differently at borders compared to those with a European passport. I saw firsthand what an arduous process such travels required, but more importantly, I realised that your passport can both hinder and facilitate opportunities across the globe. When the Berlin Wall fell, my family and I were able to emigrate anywhere we wanted. Upon moving to Canada at 14, I developed an interest in finance, eventually becoming one of the youngest licensed financial brokers at just 17 years old.

The ‘lightbulb’ moment for me came when I discovered the Canadian Immigrant Investor Programme, which allowed foreigners to invest in a specific bond to receive residency rights in Canada. This combined all of my passions: innovation in finance and unlocking personal freedom. I knew there were millions of people out there with a similar background to me who could utilise this opportunity and had a lot to offer their host country. I applied to become an approved broker with the Canadian government and then began my own firm, Arton Capital.

What do you consider the most pressing issue in the industry today?

Increased cooperation, innovation, and regulation within the industry are needed now more than ever to ensure this industry remains sustainable. How we have operated in the last 20 years cannot be how we operate in the next twenty. Unilateral action from firms must be replaced with a coordinated and cohesive effort to improve our industry. This could involve information sharing through industry-wide forums and partnerships to navigate challenges and capitalise on emerging opportunities collectively.

Accountability, transparent reporting, and effective regulation will also be key to fostering trust and aligning with lawmakers, ensuring we continue to meet the highest standards and address the needs of our stakeholders. By embracing these principles, we can create a resilient and forward-thinking industry that benefits everyone.

How would you like to see the industry evolve going forward?

Governments can do more to tailor their schemes to ensure that the foreign investment they generate is being used most beneficially. This is an area the Caribbean is leading in. For example, Antigua & Barbuda’s CIP channels capital toward the University of the West Indies. Europe can learn from the Caribbean’s tailoring of CBI programmes rather than the short-sighted decision to close programmes taken in some states, such as Spain. Moving investment away from oversaturated regions and sectors and towards areas such as government bonds, infrastructure projects, and education/conservation initiatives, for example, is one avenue governments can pursue to ensure both investors and host citizens benefit from the schemes.

More broadly, the mobility industry will evolve as technology advances. I want to enable the mobility of over a billion people, but that won’t be achieved through citizenship by investment alone; it will be achieved through developments in emerging sectors such as AI and blockchain.

Crucially, government support is paramount in altering the perception of migration to establish a truly global citizenry. I recently attended the United Nations Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference in Antigua & Barbuda, proposing the signing of a groundbreaking multilateral visa-free agreement: The St. John’s Accord. If signed, this deal would see each SIDS grant citizens of other states in the bloc visa-free travel. This is the key to unlocking economic opportunity for millions, allowing individuals to live, travel, and work more freely than before.

What books are you reading, and which ones have inspired you most?

I can’t put down The Wealth Money Can’t Buy by Robin Sharma. It’s a philosophical book that offers a life-changing outlook on how to lead a fulfilling lifestyle. Based on his ‘8 Forms of Wealth’ learning model, it teaches people how to have a more rewarding time on this Earth.

At the start of my career, I read Robin’s The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari, and it left a profound impression on me, teaching me how to use my life and help others.

Who is the person who has influenced you the most in your life and career?

I would point to Robin Sharma again. I have read his books for over a decade and am lucky to consider him a close friend. In 2013, I launched the Global Citizen Forum, a non-profit gathering of international leaders that looks to address worldwide issues through the power of global citizenship. The following year, we hosted Robin at the Forum, where he shared his wise words on how anyone can become a leader and inspire those around them.

How would you appease critics of CBI programmes?

Critics need to understand the multitude of benefits these schemes offer to both investors as well as the citizens in the host nation. In Antigua & Barbuda, for example, High Net Worth Individuals can acquire citizenship by contributing to the National Development Fund or purchasing government-approved real estate.

CIPs also contribute over 50 percent of several Caribbean nations’ GDP, enabling them to compete in a hostile international market. Whilst some states may export natural resources or sell the products of their industries, the Caribbean does not have this luxury, forcing them to sell their islands’ appeal as a destination. This has made criticism so surprising. Closing their CIP threatens to remove a key element of their economies without an adequate replacement. And why should they? CBI programmes have proven to be a vital tool for their economic and social prosperity.

What would you say to anyone thinking about pursuing citizenship or investing in Antigua & Barbuda?

Firstly, you’ve made the right decision! Antigua & Barbuda is among the most beautiful places on Earth and the ideal destination for investors to realise their Caribbean dreams and access a new life for themselves and their families.

What is your favourite spot in the twin islands?

There are too many to choose from. For me, a perfect day is waking up in Jumby Bay before having lunch at Nobu in Barbuda. Then, it is walking across the pink sandy beaches of our soon-to-be-launched Rosewood resort before settling down for dinner at Cecilia’s High Point Café.

* Arman Arton is a visionary entrepreneur, philanthropist and a Global Citizen. He is the President and CEO of Arton Capital and an executive partner at Arton Investments.