David Burt, the Premier and Minister of Finance, will lead a delegation of government, regulatory and industry leaders to next week’s Risk and Insurance Management Society annual conference and exhibition in San Antonio, Texas.

The Bermuda Business Development Agency is coordinating the island’s presence at the prestigious insurance event from April 15 to 18, including an executive industry forum, media interviews, meetings with Rims, civic and business leaders, a Bermuda networking reception, and a trade-floor booth, all highlighting the island’s leading global insurance market, and promoting June’s Bermuda Captive Conference.

“Rims is an important event for Bermuda’s insurance industry,” said Mr Burt, who will be accompanied by Wayne Furbert, Junior Minister of Finance and Pamela Burrows, Assistant Financial Secretary.

“Our market’s insurance leaders come together to showcase their expertise and demonstrate the significant role the island plays in risk mitigation. For decades, Bermuda has had a prominent position at Rims, and I look forward to continuing the relationships that have been established over the years, and to making new connections.”

Joining the government at Rims 2018 will be representatives of Bermuda’s insurance industry, the BDA, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority, including BDA chairman Paul Scope, also chairman of Willis Bermuda; BDA CEO Ross Webber; BMA chief operating officer Shanna Lespere; and Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers president and CEO John Huff.

Rims, with more than 400 exhibitors, attracts close to 10,000 risk-management professionals to its annual conference, as well as senior executives and other decision-makers from a wide range of sectors.

The hallmark two-storey Bermuda Booth, this year #1045 at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Centre, will see BDA, BMA, and volunteers from Bermuda’s global companies on hand to answer questions about the jurisdiction and meet with prospective businesses interested in establishing a presence in Bermuda.

For the first time this year, the BDA, in partnership with the Bermuda Captive Conference, has organised a Bermuda Executive Forum, to be held at the Briscoe Western Art Museum the morning of next Tuesday, before the main conference opens.

Two panels of senior industry and regulatory leaders from the island will discuss the strengths of both the Bermuda market’s world-leading captive insurance sector and its re/insurance hub.

“We’re proud once again to represent the island at Rims, and in particular, to host a forum featuring our island’s experts,” Mr Webber said. “It will be an excellent way for Bermuda to highlight our world-class industry talent across risk-management sectors to highly relevant audiences. We feel it will add extra value to Bermuda’s attendance at this year’s event.”

Team Bermuda will have a full Monday agenda of media interviews and meetings.

On Tuesday following the Bermuda forum, Rims president Robert Cartwright and Rims CEO Mary Roth will officially welcome the Bermuda delegation before it tours the exhibition hall, visiting Bermuda companies and affiliate booths.

The BDA will host the annual Bermuda Reception networking event Tuesday evening, in collaboration with Gosling’s Rum, and featuring Bermudians Gianluca Gibbons and Hannah Eggen, of soul/pop band Heritage.

There will also be several Bermuda promotional giveaways during Rims 2018, including deluxe accommodation and airfare packages courtesy of the Fairmont Southampton and Hamilton Princess, and a luxury three-night stay donated by Rosedon Hotel. As in previous years, Bermuda canvas tote bags, distributed at the booth, will also be a popular item for delegates.