At the end of the month, BIBA will unveil a new strategy devised by an international public relations firm for overseas consumption. And new efforts are to be devised to promote the industry locally.

They welcomed business people to an informal opening ceremony last night at their new offices in the old Island Press building on Victoria Street in Hamilton, where they occupy 1,200 square feet.

They were just in the process late yesterday of erecting a sign so that business people know of their new location.

It is the first time BIBA has actually rented space, having previously relied upon the generosity of its members. Some may see the changes as a sign that the 22-year old organisation has finally come of age.

Having recently taken on a marketing manager and a public relations firm, BIBA is set to assume the mandate given by Government earlier this decade to be a prime force in promoting the Island's international business.

Marketing manager, Wendy Davis-Johnson, said that while top "PR'' firm, Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, will be assisting the effort internationally, a lot of it will come in a very general way.

"One thing they will be looking at is generating good press,'' she said. "We want to build up a reservoir of good press that could promote the jurisdiction in the most generic fashion.'' Locally, BIBA's prime concern is also to raise the industry's profile.

The International Companies Division of the Chamber of Commerce (ICD),the Insurance Advisory Committee (IAC) and BIBA have begun meetings aimed at raising that profile at home.

BIBA chairman Mr. Cummings Zuill said: "One of the first things was to meet with school guidance counsellors. We were surprised to find that even they were not fully aware of opportunities in the industry. We realise that we have to do a whole lot more.'' OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS -- From left, marketing manager Ms Wendy Davis-Johnson, chairman Mr. Cummings Zuill and administrator Mrs. Jocelyn Troake.