Background to the Isle of Man

Year on year economic progress has led to a successful and rapidly growing business community. Employers enjoy fiscal advantages. Employees and other residents enjoy consistently improving standards of living. This brings together the ingredients for sustainable growth, a stable and educated workforce, a second-to-none technology infrastructure, critical nuclei of high tech companies and a pro business environment.

The Isle of Man, situated in the centre of the British Isles, is an internally self-governing dependent territory of the Crown which is not part of the United Kingdom. Tynwald, the Island's Parliament, makes its own laws and oversees all internal administration, fiscal and social policies. External issues, such as foreign representation and defence, are administered on the Island's behalf by the U.K. Government and the Island make an annual payment for these services. As a British Crown dependency, the ultimate responsibility for the Island's good government is vested in the Crown but by long standing convention, the U.K. Government does not legislate for the Island except with the specific consent of the Island's Government.

The Isle of Man is in the fortunate position of being able to provide affordable high-quality commercial and residential accommodation in a spacious and scenic environment. It has the capacity for sustaining growth for many years while continuing to retain these virtues.

The Island enjoys a special relationship with the European Union and this relationship allows streamlined movement of goods between the Island and the Union. Regular sea and air services for passengers and freight allow quick and easy access to and from the U.K., Republic of Ireland and beyond.