The largest of the British Leeward Islands, Antigua has a long tradition of political stability based on parliamentary democracy

Independent since 1981, Queen Elizabeth II remains the official head of state, represented by Governor-General Sir James Carlisle, and the legal system is based on English Common Law.

As a centre for offshore financial services, including banking, insurance and trust operations, the government has demonstrated its commitment to be pro-active against money laundering.

There is a prosperous English-speaking community - the country enjoys the highest per-capita income in the Eastern Caribbean. Tourism is the largest contributor to the gross domestic product and online gaming generates additional foreign currency earnings. First-rate professional services are widely available, and international telecommunications are excellent, with direct access into the global stream of financial and business data.

Christopher Columbus sighted and named the island in 1493; the first European settlers, English men from St Kitts, arrived in 1632. Then Sir Christopher Codrington saw the potential for growing sugarcane on Antigua, and by the mid-18th century the island was covered with plantations. Almost 100 stone towers, the remnants of cane-processing windmills, now serve as houses, bars, restaurants and shops. The restored sugar mill at Betty’s Hope, Mr Codrington’s original sugar estate, is a popular tourist attraction.

Antigua was an important strategic port when Horatio Nelson arrived in 1784 to develop British naval facilities at English Harbour. Most of the island’s historical sites, from ruined fortifications and the array of gun emplacements on the viewpoint of Shirley Heights to the impeccably restored architecture of English Harbour, the historic district in Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, are reminders of colonial determination to prevent invasion. Clarence House was built for the future King William IV who was serving under Nelson as captain of HMS Pegasus.

Today the stately Georgian buildings of Nelson’s Dockyard play host to yachts, international racing boats and classic sailing boats during Antigua’s famous sailing week. From eco-kayaking through mangroves to sailing boats, speedboats and yacht charters - and catamaran day tours with Caribbean-style lunch, snorkelling and an all-inclusive bar thrown in - boat trips are big business on Antigua.

The coral reefs, once the bane of marauding enemy ships, now attract snorkelers and scuba divers from all over the world. And the crystal clear waters teem with fish. From fully equipped 40ft charter sports fishing boats, anglers can expect to catch marlin, tuna, sharks and barracuda.

Antigua, at about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, also boasts a beach for every day of the year. The whole resort beach experience can be found at Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay on the island’s developed north-western coast; the beaches of the hilly south-west corner are less developed, and those on the sheltered east coast are good for families.

Little sister Barbuda is a flat coral island with magnificent pink and white sand beaches. A 90-minute ferry ride, or 20-minute flight away, it hosts small, exclusive resorts, including the luxurious K-Club, a celebrity hideaway with its own nine-hole golf course. On a lagoon, and accessible only by boat, Barbuda’s Frigate Bird Sanctuary is home to 5,000 frigate birds as well as over 170 other bird species.

The sunniest of the eastern Caribbean islands, with low humidity year round, Antigua is a popular port of call for big cruise ships and has attracted large investments in infrastructure. The nation’s capital, St John’s, is the centre of the business community.

The private sector is the dominant force in the economy, with the principle of free enterprise shared by the government and main political parties. A wide range of enterprises is available for investment, and while joint ventures with local persons are encouraged, 100 percent foreign ownership is permitted.

Generous incentives are given to encourage foreign investment, including tax holidays of 5-15 years, ready repatriation of capital and profits, preferential trade agreements and various valuable concessions. Importantly investment protection agreements have been signed with the United Kingdom and Germany.