partnership with a top Bermuda information technology company has predicted the business generated by the joint venture will grow four-fold over the next year.

California-based VeriSign, one of the most well-known providers of electronic identification which specialises in trusts, has linked up with independent consulting solutions(ics). Today VeriSign is hosting a breakfast meeting to explain the importance of digital certificates to representatives from all three banks, a dozen insurance companies and several other companies who have an interest in trusts.

"In the past year our business has trebled,'' said Richard Rushing, chief technical officer and co-founder of VeriSign. "We are hoping business will quadruple around the world next year, and are hoping for the same numbers here in the next year.'' The meeting will be held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute and will focus on e-commerce services the company offers in regards to trust funds.

VeriSign was set up in 1996 as a trust service company and has been expanding its operation around the world ever since. The company already has links with oeBusiness on the Island. The latest venture with ics, which is an IT, marketing and public relations, is reaching out to insurance companies and financial institutions.

Mr. Rushing said: "We want to be the leader in trust services for the world.

Currently we have set up with affiliates with over 40 countries around the world.

"We have joined up in partnership with ics to provide public key infrastructure(PKI) and security solutions for the Island.

"We had so much success on an informal basis, that we wanted to move on to the next level with ics.

"We have seen business grow amazingly on the Island. The interest is very big. The e-commerce business as a whole has grown and so has our business.''