The Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) helped push Bermuda into the international limelight yesterday as it hosted a special conference in London and lured over 30 representatives from some of the most influential media in Britain.

The strong media presence was particularly fruitful when the British Broadcasting Corporation's (BBC) World service was able to interview Premier Jennifer Smith and Telecommunications and e-Commerce Minister Renee Webb.

The interviews were aired yesterday on the BBC World Service's radio broadcasts and on their television World Business Report.

More than 130 top tier business delegates from London attended the conference which organisers last night were already heralding as a great success.

Directors and chief executives, from the likes of Rothchilds; Lehman Brothers; Goldman Sachs; The Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Credit Suisse First Boston; Barclays, and; Morgan Stanley Dean Witter were on hand and listened to presentations from Finance Minister Eugene Cox, Public Safety Minister Paula Cox, Telecommunications and e-Commerce Minister Renee Webb as well as BIBA president Raymond Medeiros.

The day's activities kicked off with an opening address from Premier Jennifer Smith.

Industry and government leaders from the Bermuda delegation conducted interviews with The Times; BBC Business; BBC World Service; The Financial Times; The Independent and SKY Business.

Other media attending the sessions included, The Telegraph; Global Reinsurance; Portfolio International, and; Financial News. Panel sessions were held on Trusts and Funds, e-Commerce, and Alternative Risk Transfer & Captives. These were moderated by Finance Minister, Eugene Cox, and Renee Webb, Minister of Telecommunications and e-Commerce.

Raymond Medeiros moderated the Risk Transfer panel.

Marcus Killick, Engagement Director for the KPMG review team, (responsible for the Review on Financial Regulation in the Caribbean Overseas Territories and Bermuda) joined BIBA as guest speaker for the evening dinner.

According to a BIBA spokesperson, Mr. Killick proved to be a draw for many UK-based business people, who were interested to hear his perspective on the report criteria, and Bermuda's standing in this context.

"BIBA hosts functions such as these to send the message that Bermuda is positioned very securely as a pristine international business jurisdiction in its own right, and clearly the leader amongst offshore centres,'' said BIBA president Raymond Medeiros.

"The UK business community is conscious of the on-going scrutiny focused on offshore business jurisdictions. Further to the findings of the OECD, FATF and the recent KPMG report, BIBA is making sure the global business community and any potential business partners of the Bermuda market are aware the benefits and high standing of our jurisdiction.''