Premier Ewart Brown has flown to Argentina to tout Bermuda's international business credentials to Latin American companies.

Dr. Brown addressed the Congress of the Latin American Risk and Insurance Managers Association (ALARYS) in Buenos Aires and is in talks to help bring the conference back to Bermuda, where it was staged in 2004.

"As more and more Latin American companies look toward creating their own risk management solutions we want them to be thinking of Bermuda as the preferred option," Premier Brown said. "We have a strong international business sector in Bermuda, but it is a mistake to be complacent. We must continuously look toward new opportunities."

While in Buenos Aires, the Premier will also be meeting Argentine finance and insurance regulators, according to a Government press release.

Dr. Brown said: "When we explain our commitment to tax information exchange and transparency those leaders are increasingly more comfortable doing business in Bermuda. We think the same mutual benefit realised between Bermuda and the United States can be realised between Bermuda and Latin American nations."

Eduardo Fox, Bermuda-based corporate commercial and trusts manager of law firm Appleby, does extensive business with Latin America. He is in also an executive member of ALARYS.

"It is invaluable to have the Premier with the private sector of Bermuda working as a team to assure we reach the Latin American market," Mr. Fox said yesterday, according to the press release.

"By speaking with Government and quasi-Government officials we are reinforcing the image of Bermuda as a transparent off-shore jurisdiction.

"Today in fact the Superintendent of Insurance (Miguel Baelo) specifically named Bermuda as a domicile of choice among Argentine companies. I think we will see an increase of Argentine companies opening new subsidiaries in Bermuda, primarily in the insurance and re-insurance sector."