The chances of corruption in Bermuda are slim to none, Premier Pamela Gordon has told this month's edition of Shore to Shore, the new magazine of The Offshore Institute, which is based in the Isle of Man.

The Premier told the publication's editor, "We make sure of this with the checks we have in place and our adherence to international standards.'' In a wide ranging discussion which involved issues like money-laundering and political stability, the Premier also said that she didn't believe that being a British territory assisted Bermuda much in bringing investment into the Island.

She described British Dependent Territory status as a positive connection that many people, including tourists, liked about the Island. But she said it neither hindered nor specifically helped business.

Premier Gordon also declared Bermuda's register of companies among the best in the world and said Bermuda has taken a leadership role in the offshore financial world, enjoying a reputation as an untarnished jurisdiction.

She said, "We are not taking just any business that wants to come to Bermuda, we are seen to be selective. The one benefit of Bermuda's policy of knowing the ultimate beneficial ownership is that the Island's register of companies is among the best in the world.

"We are proud of the quality of customer we have, even if we don't necessarily have the quantity. It is important to us to maintain our reputation.

"What we do is that we bother to identify the people who are coming here and make sure that they know what is expected of them to operate in our jurisdiction. "We welcome them, we try to make them feel welcome, but we let them know that we have rules and regulations and that they must fit within our sphere.'' The Premier said that the Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) has enjoyed tremendous international growth in the last year, increasing its market capitalisation to nearly $40 billion, and was "relatively important'' as an attraction to do business in Bermuda.

July's quarterly edition of Shore to Shore also included interviews with former Bermuda International Business Association chairman, Tom Davis, and CEO of the BSX, William Woods.

Mr. Woods said that in the face of the emergence of new offshore exchanges, the BSX led the way, being the only one to have the critical mass of stockbrokers and listed issues required for any offshore exchange to succeed.

He also added, "We are now the fastest growing exchange for the listing of mutual funds and depositary receipt programmes.'' Mr. Woods discussed other innovations that kept Bermuda ahead of the pack, including the crossings facility and CATEX (Bermuda), the world's first offshore, electronic insurance risk exchange.

The Offshore Institute, founded in 1989, aims to educate and train practitioners in offshore and international planning. It is the offshore industry's first and only multi-disciplinary international professional body, providing members and affiliates with educational networking capabilities.

The institute's primary role is educational, including devotion to the study of offshore finance, international business and private wealth preservation planning. Members and affiliates receive the magazine -- the July publication was the second issue -- and complimentary copies of various other leading offshore publications.