Cayman Enterprise City (CEC)

The Cayman Islands Government enacted the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act in an effort to diversify economic growth and attract additional foreign direct investment (FDI). Cayman Enterprise City’s SEZs are uniquely engineered to support a diverse mix of globally focused industries, from software development, FinTech and digital assets to media, maritime, natural sciences, and aviation. By targeting high-value business sectors that drive economic diversification, CEC is helping to build socio-economic resilience and sustainability for the Cayman Islands, while offering businesses a real, on-the-ground presence in a world-class jurisdiction.

CEC, an award-winning development project, delivers the most efficient corporate setup solution in the Cayman Islands, designed to attract new knowledge-based industries that underpin a resilient, diversified economy poised for future growth.

Bundled business licensing and service office solutions help to reduce setup and ongoing operational costs by up to 40%. CEC is now home to the largest innovation ecosystem in the region and facilitates over 425 SEZ companies.

Concessions and Reasons to Relocate to CEC

• 100% foreign ownership permitted
• Well-regulated and recognised free zone
• Secure, Efficient and Reliable IT Infrastructure
• No local corporate, income, sales capital gains or payroll tax
• 100% exemption from import duties
• Fast, efficient, and cost-effective set up within 4-6 weeks
• 5 Year renewable work permits/residency visas granted within 5 days
• 5 year residency for employees and their dependents
• A safe, stable British Overseas Territory with robust laws
• Intellectual property owned offshore
• An appropriately business regulated environment
• Excellent service providers to support your business
• Easy access to North and Latin America markets
• Ongoing support offered by CEC’s Client Experience and Global Mobility teams

Eligible Market Sectors

CEC can accept companies and divisions of companies active in these key sectors:

• Internet and Technology
• Media and Marketing (including digital media, film and broadcasting)
• Commodities and Derivatives (including fund managers, investment managers, virtual asset traders, and prop traders)
• Biotechnology, Life Sciences and Green Technology
• Maritime Services and Aviation Services

Why Companies are Establishing in CEC:

Global Tax Neutrality

Companies are using CEC as part of their global structuring strategy, as it provides them with the opportunity to cost-effectively establish a genuine physical presence offshore, which can significantly enhance their competitiveness in the global marketplace and enable them to generate a tax-exempt active business income in the Cayman Islands.

Work/Residency Visas for Staff

CEC enables businesses to immediately re-locate key staff from any country of origin to the Cayman Islands, particularly those that may not be able to get visas for the US or Canada. CEC companies can obtain five-year work/residency visas for personnel within five working days.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property can be held by a zone company and licensed internationally from this tax-neutral jurisdiction. Many CEC companies avail themselves of the benefit of establishing their IP offshore early, as part of their overall business strategy, to maximise the value of this key asset for the whole of the company’s life cycle, avoiding costly migration issues later.

Set-Up Process

CEC’s plug-and-play model allows businesses of all sizes to quickly and efficiently establish a physical business presence in the Cayman Islands within 4-6 weeks. Packages include Zone Employment Certificates (work/resident visas) for staff, Zone Trade Certificates to operate a the business, and fully serviced office solutions, which include everything from data connectivity to janitorial. Thoughtfully designed community spaces and dynamic programming provides excellent opportunities to engage, network and grow your business offshore. For more information email: innovate@caymanenterprisecity.com, call (345) 945 3722, or visit www.caymanenterprisecity.com.

Signal House

In March 2024, Cayman Enterprise City opened Signal House, a state-of-the-art, 40,000 sq ft business facility located off Fairbanks Road in South Sound. Purpose-built to support innovation and growth, Signal House offers everything from enterprise-grade connectivity and robust IT infrastructure to fully serviced workspaces and collaborative environments.

The facility features a 60-seat auditorium, teaching facilities, and professional meeting rooms, making it ideal for both day-to-day operations events. At the heart of Signal House is 2474 Café, a welcoming spot open to the public Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, serving breakfast, lunch, and specialty coffee, perfect for casual meetings or a midday recharge.

Through CEC’s non-profit organisation, Enterprise Cayman, Signal House hosts over 150 events annually, including Tech Talks, networking mixers, and training sessions, making it a vibrant hub for knowledge-sharing and community building.

You can also click here for more information on Cayman's Special Economic Zone.