Business Bermuda will host its annual Bermuda Financial Services Conference on Thursday 7 April 2011 at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London, England. The event will include a keynote speech by the newly appointed Premier of Bermuda, The Honourable Paula Cox, who will provide insight on the state of Bermuda’s economy and its standing vis-à-vis other jurisdictions. 

“Business Bermuda is actively and aggressively marketing Bermuda as a financial center for international business globally,” said Cheryl Packwood, CEO of Business Bermuda. “After last year’s hugely successful and [inaugural] Bermuda Financial Services conference, we are delighted to return to London to update attendees on Bermuda’s progress in its product offering and regulatory approach.  Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Bermuda’s newly appointed Premier, the Bermuda Monetary Authority, the Governor of Bermuda and some of the foremost business experts from the capital markets, funds, insurance, reinsurance and other sectors. We are confident that attendees will learn that Bermuda is well-positioned to provide their businesses with the best possible services to enhance their growth in a well-regulated, financially strong and highly respected business environment.”

Conference itinerary also includes an Offshore Summit with panel members including:

·    Sir Richard Gozney, the Governor of Bermuda;

·    Mr. Jeremy Cox, CEO of the Bermuda Monetary Authority;

·    Mr. Greg Wojciechowski, CEO of the Bermuda Stock Exchange;

·    Cheryl Packwood, CEO of Business Bermuda; and

·      Pamela Burrows, Assistant Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Moderator for this panel)

This panel session will discuss Bermuda’s key benefits and provide insight on its position in the global community. It will provide an overview of Bermuda’s regulatory approach, key offerings, insight on the state of Bermuda’s economy and analysis of its standing vis-à-vis other jurisdictions The high-level discussion proposed will enable attendees to gather information in an efficient one hour long session.

The afternoon will include a series of informative panel presentations and discussions on business developments and opportunities in Bermuda. The Bermuda delegation includes top lawyers, regulators and financial service representatives, who will be on hand to offer an overview of the benefits of Bermuda and to lead a series of focused break-out sessions.

These panels of industry experts will explain current developments in the jurisdiction and address key issues including tax policy, regulation and Bermuda’s role in offering a new range of financial solutions that provide the capital and risk management expertise that are essential to the global economy.  The Hedge Funds, Private Equity and Investments seminar will address the introduction of the EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, the standards and regulations of which Bermuda is already set to meet and why welcomes as a positive new development for its investment fund industry. 

For the first time, the event will offer an exclusive panel session on Islamic Finance.  The panel will be moderated by Belaid Jheengoor from PricewaterhouseCoopers. Many Bermuda-based companies and trusts have played key roles in Islamic finance transactions and can offer flexible solutions to this nascent industry. Widely recognised for its contribution to conventional finance, Bermuda has already shown its determination to increase its role in the growth of the Islamic finance industry.