On August 11^th, 2025, the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis passed the landmark Special Sustainability Zone Authorization Bill, creating a legal framework to attract sustainable, high-quality investment.

The Zones will promote economic diversification, job creation, and climate resilience under strict environmental and social standards. The legislation is the first to embed the seven pillars of the Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA) into law.

Those seven pillars are: Water Security, Energy Transition, Food Security, Sustainable Industry, Sustainable Settlements, Circular Economy, and Social Protection.

Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew answered the question: “Why do we need Special Sustainability Zones?”

Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew.

Meantime, the National Assembly also passed the Banking (Amendment) Bill, strengthening the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s (ECCB) ability to regulate and protect the financial sector.

Among the benefits of the amendments are: modernized banking definitions, tightening on the oversight of risky practices, regulation of currency exchange and outsourcing, the prohibition shell banks, and empowerment of the ECCB to cap excessive fees.

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew emphasized that the reforms will ensure fairer, safer, and more transparent banking across the region, offering better protection for consumers and aligning the law with international best practices.