world economic think-tank in Switzerland.

Ms Smith said: "We view Bermuda's participation...as an important opportunity for us to join with the world community to discuss collective concerns, in addition to encouraging new business opportunities for our international business industry.'' With the Premier at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, will be Finance Minister Eugene Cox, Sen. David Burch and business chiefs Henry Smith of the Bank of Bermuda and XL Capital's Michael Butt.

The forum -- which starts tomorrow -- will this year have the theme of "Managing the Impact of Globalisation''.

Key speakers include Princess Anne, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, South African president Nelson Mandela, US vice-president Al Gore and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Also attending the conference will be more than 1,000 bosses of world-ranking companies and hundreds of senior political figures, as well as a host of top academics.

Ms Smith and her team earlier this week hosted a dinner for business leaders in New York and the Premier will address today a meeting of the Bermuda Society in London, as well as make her first direct contact as Premier with the UK's Labour Government.