The Chamber of Commerce's "Buy Bermuda" chant will increase in volume this weekend, with the slogan being used to encouraged investors to buy into businesses on the rock.

Bad weather forced the Bermuda Stock Exchange to cancel their planned "Invest Bermuda" forum, designed to help Bermudians and residents become better informed about local businesses on Island's the stock exchange.

Not only has the free event - which is open the public - been rescheduled for Saturday, but it has also teamed up with the Chamber of Commerce to promote the "Buy Bermuda" push.

"The BSX has been promoting the `Buy Bermuda' theme for many years under the banner `own your share of Bermuda'" said Joanne McPhee, corporate communications manager at the BSX. "So we see what the Chamber of Commerce is doing now as a perfect fit for us and our Invest Bermuda event."

The investor awareness expo will now take place on Saturday, November 17 at XL House, One Bermudiana Road and will be an informal exhibition-style event designed to give investors an opportunity to find out more about the local stock market.

While the focus will be on the local market, industry professionals will also be on hand to address global market conditions. Neither the companies listed on the exchange, nor their investors live in isolation and what is happening elsewhere will naturally have some impact on the local market and the Island's economy as a whole, organisers said.

It is the first time the event will be held in the new XL House conference facilities and Ms MacPhee said: "The BSX and all its participating issuers are absolutely delighted that XL Capital has agreed to allow us to use their global headquarters, XL House, for this very important community event."

Invest Bermuda was originally scheduled to take place October 13, but was postponed at the last minute after Hurricane Karen buffeted the Island.

"We realise that many people were disappointed by the postponement in October and we are very pleased that with XL's co-operation, we have been able to reschedule the event this year," said Ms MacPhee.

Ms MacPhee added: "Current market conditions have made many investors and potential investors, cautious and we believe that Invest Bermuda will be an ideal opportunity for the entire community to discuss the ramifications of recent events with key industry players in an informative, yet informal setting."

Many of Bermuda's largest public companies will have booths and will feature several key speakers, including Royal Gazette columnist Martha Myron, Argus CEO Gerald Simons and Bank of Butterfield & Sons Ltd's CFO Richard Ferrett.