The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce announced yesterday its Internet web site will be linked to the Paris-based International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce (IBCC).

The tie means Bermuda Chamber members will be connected to 750 chamber organisations, as well as their thousands of members, worldwide.

Over 250 members of the Bermuda Chamber, which has 700 members, have signed up to have a free presence in the Chamber's directory listing, Chamber vice president Micky Smith said.

Of the 250, over 50 are interested in having their home pages linked with the Chamber's home page.

The membership directory listing on the web site is anticipated to be on-line by the end of next month.

The directory offers Bermuda companies an avenue to market products and has tourism-related benefits, Mr. Smith added.

"We see the Chamber's presence on the world wide web as a very positive and exciting development for Bermuda.

"It represents one more opportunity for Bermuda businesses to showcase their products in the global marketplace,'' Bank of Bermuda senior vice president, executive management, Cummings Zuill said.

The Chamber also said it has appointed Internet (Bermuda) Ltd. (IBL), as technical service provider. IBL recently again doubled its Internet bandwidth capacity.

IBL general manager Peter Durhager said businesses are "waking up quickly to the benefits of a strong Internet presence.'' The Chamber web site will be supported by the Bermuda Business Network and the Bermuda Insurance Network sites, the Chamber's Internet advisor Bill Storey, of the Internet Strategic Planning Group, said.

Mr. Storey will host a Chamber power breakfast on Wednesday, October 9, at 8:30 a.m. at the Princess to cover Internet opportunities.