The second annual Bermuda E-Commerce Conference will aim to attract e-commerce business to the Island, organisers said yesterday.

And the event, which will be held from September 18 to 20 at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel, will be tailored to address strategic e-commerce issues that people in the industry are interested in through an online survey.

Conference chairman Barbara Gaudette said: "The focus of eCC 99 was educational -- we wanted Bermudian business leaders to understand the e-commerce opportunities available to them.

"This year eCC 2000 will focus on bringing business to Bermuda.

"To ensure that eCC 2000 is a customer-driven event, the eCC planning committee invites people in Bermuda and around the world, who are interested in e-commerce, to complete an online survey on the eCC Bermuda website at www.eccbermuda.com.

"Responses to this survey will be used to define the conference tracks and keynote and session topics.'' The survey will be reviewed on March 1 but issues already being brought to the fore include tax laws; business to business e-commerce; marketing; regulations; and the financial side of e-commerce.

The conference committee has enlisted the help of the Bermuda International Business Association as an organising sponsor along with the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce and Logic Communications.

BIBA Chief Executive Officer Pat Phillip-Bassett said the outward focus of the event would compliment the organisation's mission of enhancing Bermuda's position as an e-commerce jurisdiction.

"We will be supporting the event with advertising, public relations coverage and promotion in international conferences.

"Going beyond the global e-commerce hype, Bermuda can now not only demonstrate capabilities in this area with live examples, we can also bring potential clients and business partners to the Island via this conference, so that they can see for themselves what we have to offer.'' One hundred and sixty eight local and overseas delegates attended last year's event.

Chamber of Commerce divisional co-ordinator Robin Trimingham said: "This year we anticipate that there will be approximately 250 delegates in attendance; in coming years, it is our goal to double the size of this event.

"It is the long-term vision of the conference committee to develop eCC Bermuda into the premier e-business event attracting global entrepreneurs and investors to our shores.'' She added that the newly formed E-Business Division of the Chamber had created a sub-committee who will organise a trade show for the first night of the conference.

Logic's Senior Vice-President Jeff Hamill said his firm was looking to highlight all of the technology and business vehicles locally available for e-commerce.

Registration starts in June.

BUSINESS BUC