Bermuda’s needs to maintain an ongoing shift in attitude to show it appreciates the value that the insurance industry brings to the Island, Premier Paula Cox said yesterday.During her visit to the Risk and Insurance Management Society annual conference in Vancouver this week, Ms Cox has met with several insurance industry executives, spoken at the Bermuda Market Breakfast and conducted the traditional Bermuda Premier’s walkabout of the conference hall.Premier Cox emphasised that insurance was a mainstay of the economy and that the Island’s strong tradition of legal and political stability allowed it to remain so.“We will continue to demonstrate our willingness, welcoming nature and our support to the international business sector,” Ms Cox said in a statement released yesterday.“Bermuda is setting the pace, however we cannot just rest on our laurels, so we need to find that ‘Bermuda plus’ factor.“This is not just legislation; it’s a continued attitudinal shift which demonstrates that we recognise the value that the insurance sector adds to Bermuda. We want to ensure that we continue to move forward in partnership with them.”Premier Cox also took the chance for a chat with the leader of Bermuda’s offshore financial centre rival the Cayman Islands.The informal meeting with Premier McKeeva Bush took place at the Bermuda Reception, a social and networking event for insurance buyers and professionals, on Tuesday night at Vancouver’s Blue Water Cafe and Raw Bar in Hamilton Street.A source said the two leaders, who also both attended last week’s Royal Wedding in London, had a lengthy and apparently friendly chat.Tuesday was a busy day for Premier Cox, who spoke at the RIMS Bermuda Breakfast event, organised by the Insurance Development Council and afterwards sat on a panel of industry participants from the Island.She then went on the traditional Premier’s walkabout of the conference hall and had a series of meetings with insurance executives.“In talking with the industry leaders, they spoke about the importance of innovation and quality,” Ms Cox said yesterday.“Our partners say that they are comfortable, satisfied and committed to Bermuda. The distinguishing features for them are our sound regulatory framework and speed to market.“We also discussed the importance of education to the sustainability of the industry and how we might expand the opportunities for younger Bermudians so they see the benefits of being involved in the insurance and reinsurance sector, even at the primary and middle school ages.”In her breakfast speech, Premier Cox told industry professionals that Bermuda was still very much open for business.“The international sector has managed in large part to withstand the impact of the recession and also continue to attract business despite the global turmoil and uncertainty year after year,” she said.She stressed that there were many jurisdictions competing for business and to remain relevant, it was imperative that Bermuda met the challenge to differentiate itself in order to keep current partners coming back and to attract new business.“Bermuda is seen to be a magnet and we want to ensure that we raise the bar to continue to attract you,” she said.“It is very important that we work to protect and grow that sector. Complacency cannot be our mantra. We must maintain a receptive balance so that we can continue to be competitive while still recognising the premium that you pay and we pay for quality and reputation.“The Government must play an activist role to make sure that we do whatever we can to facilitate growth.”