Not only Bermuda banks, law and accounting firms have a stake in international business, the Island's largest foreign exchange earner, but so do cab drivers and store owners.

That's the message organisers of Bermuda's first International Business Expo plan to emphasise when the event takes over the City Hall car park on Saturday, July 19.

"The purpose of the International Business Expo is to bring the industry to the community in an accessible, informative and friendly manner,'' Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) local marketing committee chairman Norris Ebbin said.

Details of the privately-funded expo were released yesterday at a press conference at Hamilton's City Hall.

"It is our hope that the expo, and the creative writing contest leading up to it, will become annual events supported by the entire community,'' Mr. Ebbin said.

BIBA, organising the event for the Island's international business industry, said that 30 local companies directly or indirectly involved in international business have contributed all the $90,000 needed for the expo.

In 1995, international business employs about 2,200 people and nearly 13,000 jobs -- just under 40 percent of the total number of jobs in Bermuda -- were dependent on international companies expenditure, the most recent Archer Report said.

In 1995, international business spent $527 million in Bermuda, a record and a 22 percent increase over 1994, the Archer report said.

"The expo is an adjunct to the local awareness programme that we have been running for just over a year now and provides the opportunity to explain the role various companies play in international business, to showcase the Bermudians employed in those companies and to talk about opportunities that are represented by the industry,'' Mr. Ebbin added.

For the expo, the car park will be turned into an outdoor trade show featuring booths, an international food court and a stage production featuring the best of Bermuda's performing arts.

It will close with an outdoor concert called "A Night of Bermuda Stars'' performed on a stage along City Hall's west wall. The concert will include rock, reggae, gospel, jazz and top 40 music.

The expo coincides with the centennial celebrations of the Corporation of Hamilton.

"International business has changed the face of Hamilton profoundly and contributed to its success,'' Mr. Ebbin said.

Leading up to the expo, there will be a creative writing contest run in all the Island's public and private secondary schools as well as the Bermuda College. Students can enter prose, poetry or song compositions on what international business means to them. Winners will be announced at the expo.

BIBA has prepared an information kit for each secondary school and the Bermuda College. Each kit contains a video copy of the slide presentation, "International Business...it's about all of us'', brochures on international business, the address of the Bermuda-inc web site and a list of industry representatives who have agreed to act as mentors for students.

The kit also includes a suggested lesson plan for teachers.

"I would like to acknowledge the support we have received from senior education officer Dr. Joseph Christopher in preparing for the creative writing contest and in producing the information kits,'' Mr. Ebbin said.

EXPO EDUCATION -- Cedarbridge Academy principal Ernest Payette, left, and Shernette Peniston who will be Cedarbridge's head librarian, were presented with education packs from Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) local marketing committee chairman Norris Ebbin. The packs include information on international business and are part of BIBA's International Business Expo, a one-day event to raise awareness about this pillar of the Island's economy.

BUSINESS BUC