A major conference focusing on reinsurance is to held next week.

And Economic Development Minister Grant Gibbons is slated to give the keynote address to the eighth annual Bermuda Reinsurance Conference.

Run by accountancy firm PwC with ratings agency Standard & Poor’s, the conference will examine the future for the industry, key trends and potential problems.

Arthur Wightman, PwC Bermuda managing director and insurance leader, said: “Evolution is driving big shifts and old certainties need to be rethought.

“Responsible management involves being prepared to think the unthinkable and to formulate plans and strategies that look not only at the evolution of current business models, but also those that can weather the disruptive forces ahead.”

Standard & Poor’s Greg Gaskel, who will open the conference, added: “With the influx of third party capital, we are seeing a heightened convergence between the reinsurance sector and the capital markets.

“While there has been this capital interest in the past, it will test the industry’s resolve as it looks to achieve long term objectives of sustainable growth and profitability against a cloudy economic landscape.

“Given that most reinsurers have strong capitalisation, well-developed enterprise risk management programmes, experience in issuing innovative products and entering new markets, we believe that most will be able to reach these goals.

“We’re delighted to host a dialogue focused on how during this year’s conference.”

The conference, to be held at the Hamilton Princess next Tuesday and Wednesday, is under the banner ‘Securing a foothold in shifting sands’.

Panel discussions will look at the future of reinsurance, how to maintain profits in an era of low interest rates and limited investment returns.

Other panels will examine investment opportunities, increased regulatory activity in Europe and the US and the increased demand for reinsurance and index linked securities, catastrophe bonds and their threat to traditional reinsurance business, as well as the opportunities they might provide for revenue growth and risk management.

To view the agenda for the conference or to register, visit www.BermudaReinsurance2013.com.