A top official from the administration of former US president Bill Clinton has been hired as an advisor by the Finance Ministry, as Government yesterday declared its intention to stand up in defence of the Island?s international business sector.

Rodney Slater, who served as US Secretary of Transportation and is a partner in top Washington law firm Patton Boggs LLP, was introduced yesterday by Finance Minister Paula Cox.

Ms Cox said it was time for her Ministry to take a proactive role marketing role in support of the international business sector ?as a matter of national economic interest?, as well as to establish ?a Bermuda presence in in important economic hubs?.

And although Ms Cox made clear that Mr. Slater was not a lobbyist, it is likely that his previous position in the Clinton administration will be an asset in dealing with Democrat politicians whose influence has dramatically increased following their party?s mid-term elections success last month.

However both Mr. Slater and Ms Cox stressed yesterday that they would adopt a bipartisan approach in their dealings with US lawmakers.

Mr. Slater said his work for the Bermuda Government would focus on matters of US public policy that could affect the Island. These could include areas such as taxation and security policies.

The cost of hiring Mr. Slater had already been budgeted for as part of the Finance Ministry?s professional services, Ms Cox said, declining to give a figure. She also declined to give details on the range of services that Mr. Slater would carry out for the Ministry, as ?that would not be prudent?.

Patton Boggs describes itself as ?the nation?s leading public policy law firm?. On its web site the practice states: ?Patton Boggs was a pioneer in merging public policy expertise with traditional legal practice. Led by partners with extensive backgrounds in government service, we were among the first to recognise the importance of recruiting attorneys with strong ties to both major political parties in order to be effective on Capitol Hill.?

?There is a vital need for Bermuda to enlarge its footprint on both sides of the Atlantic, including the UK and Europe,? Ms Cox said at a press conference in the Senate chamber yesterday. ?The challenges of globalisation and the intensity of competition between jurisdictions absolutely demand a Bermuda presence in important economic hubs.?

Long-serving Finance Ministry adviser Dr. Andrew Brimmer, who was also present at yesterday?s announcement, identified Patton Boggs as a top-tier law firm that could help to strengthen the relationship between the governments of Bermuda and the US.

?The US, as you know, is Bermuda?s main trade and investment partner,? Ms Cox said. ?Our currency is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate, more than three-quarters of Bermuda?s tourism business is sourced from the US and almost all of the Fortune 100 companies have a subsidiary or associated company based in Bermuda. Nurturing and sustaining the strategic economic relationship that Bermuda has with the US is vital.?

She added that Mr. Slater?s bipartisan approach had earned great respect on ?both sides of the aisle? and that he was a key addition to the Finance Ministry?s group of advisers.

?I am not going into detail as to the range of tasks and services that Patton Boggs will deliver to the Ministry of Finance as that would not be prudent,? Ms Cox added. ?However, I do wish to make it clear, crystal clear, that Mr. Slater is not a lobbyist for the Ministry of Finance or the Government of Bermuda, nor will that function become part of his remit.?

Mr. Slater said Patton Boggs was the ?number one public policy firm in the US? and said he was delighted to have the chance to work with the Bermuda Government.

?We will likely be providing advice on US legislative matters and public policy issues,? Mr. Slater said. ?There are a number of issues that could be of concern and we will recommend strategies on these policy concerns as they arise and we will talk about how to deal with US federal regulatory agencies.

?We will also provide advice when it comes to dealing with particular members of Congress.?

A recent whirlwind tour of Washington, organised by US Consul General Gregory Slayton, had earned Bermuda many friends among both major parties, Mr. Slater added. And he foresaw no imminent threat to Bermuda from the Democrats? success in taking control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate during last month?s elections.

?There are new people in leadership posts as a result of the elections and that bodes well for Bermuda,? Mr. Slater said. ?There is a Republican administration and Democratic Congress and that provides opportunities to deal with things that have previously been marginalised.?

Ms Cox also stressed the need for Government to be directly involved in the marketing and promotion of Bermuda as an international financial centre.

?The competition from both onshore and international financial centres has become more intense in the last decade and home governments have become actively involved in both supporting and directing some of the strategic thrusts,? Ms Cox said.

?In these circumstances, there was clearly a need for the Ministry of Finance to step to the fore of marketing efforts in support of international business as a matter of national economic interest.

?As the largest single contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), leading most other sectors by a margin of 2:1, the case for decisive action was compelling.?

Getting Bermuda?s message across in high-profile business publications was part of the promotional effort, Ms Cox added, and the Ministry had contributed to recent articles in Business Week and Euromoney, as well as pieces to appear in early 2007 in The Economist and the Wall Street Journal magazine, Smart Money.