40th Anni. of Falkland Islands Development Corporation

Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC)

At its core, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) is the great enabler of the Falkland Islands economy. For the past 40 years, FIDC has been providing loans and grants to businesses — both new and established — to facilitate economic growth across the South Atlantic archipelago.

Over its four decades, FIDC has loaned millions of pounds (£) to businesses in nearly every sector of the economy, taken equity stakes in new ventures, invited foreign businesses to the shores of the Falkland Islands, and negotiated on matters of international significance.

Whether it was bringing 24-hour power to farms, international flights from Chile and inter-Island ship transportation, or establishing an abattoir and facilitating the construction of a wool warehouse for the Falkland Islands’ number one export, FIDC has played the leading role, all for the benefit of the local economy.

It has consistently employed a dedicated staff meant to serve the needs of every industry across the Falkland Islands, many of whom have gone to take on posts in both national and international arenas, and represented both the public sector and private business.

FIDC has at times acted in concert with the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) — having once been a department within FIG — and is the vanguard where government is unable to intervene.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of FIDC. To that end, the corporation has embarked on a new regime, one that sees greater emphasis on grants and loans that are fit for purpose, and making green/renewable initiatives a core component of its mandate, while being more proactive within the community, and leading on key components of the economy.

Representing the Economy

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, FIDC commissioned local artist Samantha Chapman to design a series of unique images that reflect both the core of the economy and are emblematic of the role FIDC has played in growing the Falkland Islands.

A native of the Falkland Islands, Samantha Chapman is an artist, and the owner of Chapman’s Colorful Creations, a boutique online arts and crafts store specializing in personalized items. Chapman takes most of her inspiration from her home, preferring to focus on the less typical Falkland Islands images.

Chapman’s preferred medium is taking freestanding wooden blocks and applying vividly colorful backgrounds to a silhouetted foreground. The results are simple and striking, focusing the viewer to a single shape bathed in a multitude of hues. These represent the stunning sunrises and sunsets seen in the Falkland Islands.

Quote from Samantha Chapman: “I was honored to be invited to be a part of this project. It is important to me to be able to represent my home through the medium of art. I hope these images convey the important aspects of the Falkland Islands economy.”

Airline

In the 1990s, FIDC was responsible for negotiating the first commercial flights to the Falkland Islands, first with Aerovias DAP and LAN Chile, which subsequently became LATAM Airlines. The LATAM service now includes a once-a-week flight from Santiago (SCL) to Mount Pleasant (MPN), with a stopover in Punta Arenas (PUQ).

Wind Turbines

It used to be that farms across the Falkland Islands did not have regular access to power. With financial assistance from FIDC, wind turbines were provided to settlements across East and West Falklands, birthing 24-hour power for farmers, and symbolizing the type of renewable energy initiatives that FIDC has historically helped initiate in the Falkland Islands.

Fishing Industry

As an island nation, the fishing industry is now the biggest contributor to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). And the dozens of vessels that show up in and around Stanley Harbor each year are a reminder of just how strong these businesses have become. FIDC helped the fishing sector by providing financial assistance to some of its founding companies, partnered with government in designing the national licensing scheme, and led in initiating aquaculture as a potential industry.

Herding Dog

The “ground commander” for the hundreds of kilometers of farmland that shape the Falkland Islands, the Falkland Shepherd herding dog maneuvers hundreds of thousands of Corriedales, Polwarth, and Merino sheep into shearing sheds. The herding dogs living on the farms that exist today are in part due to FIDC successfully administering the subdivision of farms that took place over several years beginning in the mid-1980s.

Wool Industry

Wool is the most visible export of the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands is a nation of shearers, as farms are all engaged in some form of wool production. From its beginning, FIDC has been inextricably connected to the wool industry, whether it was forming the nation’s first wool cooperative, financing the purchase of the national stud flock, providing the necessary capital to implement the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), or constructing the wool warehouse.

FIDC 40th Anniversary

FIDC is more focused on renewable and green initiatives than ever before, having recently launched its Green Business Program and making it the centerpiece of its financial support mechanisms. Historically, FIDC has led on schemes that offered environmentally-sound results for the Falkland Islands. Going forward, FIDC will continue to make “green” a core component to any undertaking that goes towards developing the national economy.

Text and design co-ordination: FIDC

Technical details:

Illustrations Samantha Chapman

Designer Bee Design

Printer Cartor Security Printing

Process Lithography

Stamp Size 30.6 x 38mm

Perforation 13 x 13 ¼ per 2cms

Sheet Layout 10

Release date 3 November, 2023

Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd