IBA Annual Conference Paris 2023

29 Oct - 3 Nov 2023

Rooms 212-213, Level 2

Session information

Immigration challenges facing startup companies

Wednesday 1 November (1115 - 1230)

Rooms 212-213, Level 2

Committee(s)

Immigration and Nationality Law Committee (Lead)

Description

Countries around the world are designing new start-up visa programmes to attract founder talent into their economies. Many of these new programmes are focused on the innovation and tech sectors, with new visa schemes aimed at finding entrepreneurs he will found businesses, create jobs, scale up and grow the existing tech and innovation ecosystems.
 
But how far do these policies do what they say on the tin? Are they delivering against their stated policy aims? Do would-be entrepreneurs use these visas or do they use other easier existing routes to enter and start their businesses? And is there any evidence that these policies work and have the potential to add significantly to the economy?
 
We are delighted to be joined by Jean Christophe Dumont, Head of the International Migration Division in the Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs at the OECD, who will discuss the organisations work in identifying the most attractive countries for start-up talent, and our co-panellists will look at some new and existing programmes or regional agreements which are being used by migrant founders including in Canada, the United States, the Netherlands and in Nigeria. This will be a lively panel looking at what policies work, how they might be improved  and what a successful visa programme might look like.

Session / Workshop Chair(s)

Nicolas Rollason Kingsley Napley, London, England; Co-Chair, Immigration and Nationality Law Committee

Speakers

Oluwapamilerin Blessing Akabunwa Famsville Solicitors , Lagos, Nigeria
Jean-Christophe Dumont OECD, Paris, France
Stephen Green Green and Spiegel LLP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jelle Kroes Kroes Advocaten Immigration Lawyers, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Vice Chair for Communications, Global Employment Institute (GEI)
Tahmina Watson Watson Immigration Law, Seattle, Washington, USA