David Ezekiel has spoken of his pride at helping to develop the international business sector in Bermuda during his 11-year tenure as chairman of the Association of Bermuda International Companies (ABIC).

Mr Ezekiel, who was talking in an exclusive interview with The Royal Gazette after stepping down from his role at the annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, highlighted the achievements the Association had made during his time in charge and the challenges it faced in the future.

One of his key accomplishments was establishing ABIC as the voice of the international companies on the Island and forging a strong partnership with the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers, the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, the Bermuda Employers' Council and the Bermuda Hotel Association, all of whom have made joint submissions to Government on a number of issues.

"I think that ABIC has become a really meaningful force in the international business sector," he said.

"It is just a tremendous group of leaders on the board and I think their commitment to the Association has been backed up by what I have done because, at the end of the day, the chairman just represents what the board members and members think.

"I think it is also pleasing to see the responses of the Association when we asked for information from them in the form of surveys to gauge their temperatures and feelings about certain issues and to know that we represent them accurately, which have been above even our expectations."

Mr Ezekiel will continue to serve on the Association's board and to assist in any capacity, believing that there are still several challenges ahead, particularly that of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) gaining Solvency II equivalence and the differing needs of the Island's insurance sector.

At the AGM, he called on members to work with the BMA to assist it in achieving that goal, while maintaining the Bermuda business model, for which he believes the next six months to one year will be critical.

"I have been very passionate about international business and what it brings to the community not only financially but in terms of support also," he said.

"And now I want to assist and help the sector as a whole to move forward in that respect."

Speaking on the issue of term limits, which was brought up by Kim Wilson, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, at the AGM, Mr Ezekiel said that under the leadership of his incumbent George Hutchings, ABIC would continue to keep up a dialogue with the Minister to achieve a "sensible application" of the work permit rules which would alleviate any major requirement resulting from the term limit structure.