Premier Ewart Brown has signed a Letter of Intent with his counterpart in Nova Scotia, Canada, Premier Rodney MacDonald paving the way for more formalised business and cultural ties.

The Letter was signed at Province House, in Halifax, where the Nova Scotia House of Assembly meets.

"Before the signing ceremony, the Premiers met over a working lunch to discuss steps that can be taken as the two jurisdictions strengthen ties. The Letter of Intent will result in an official Memorandum of Understanding.

Dr. Brown, who met his counterpart on Thursday, also met with Nova Scotia Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Bill Dooks, and his Deputy Minister Kelliann Dean. Last night he met with other tourism officials and hosted the Halifax leg of the Premier's college tour where he met Bermudian students.

Dr. Brown said: "We have almost 2,000 people from Canada working and living in Bermuda and we have as many as 300 Bermudian university students here in Nova Scotia at any given time.

"Plus there is clearly room to grow our relationship in areas like financial services, entrepreneurship and tourism.

"A Memorandum of Understanding will help all involved focus their attention on the potential before us. This was the first step in that process.

"The Premier and I talked a great deal about our students. "I'd like to see Bermudian students who graduate from university have an opportunity to stay for a year or two and pick up work experience that can ultimately be brought back to the Bermuda workforce.

"That is something that is very important to the success of our young people. Premier MacDonald said he would certainly look into it."

Mr. MacDonald said: "We will sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will cement the many partnerships that exist between our two communities and pave the way to future opportunities.

"We are strengthening a partnership and building on an important relationship.