The Bahamas Financial Services Board-hosted annual [International Business & Finance Summit](http://www.ibfs-bahamas.com) (IBFS), held in Freeport, Grand Bahama on January 21 to 23 received high marks from participants and will be instrumental in helping BFSB advance its action plans for the year ahead.

BFSB says, *“The event is evolving still, but we are quite pleased with the progress made since the inaugural IBFS in 2010 and, in fact, the first “Retreat” in 2004. The decision to target the focus of the original annual Retreat to one of business development and sustainable growth permeated the entire event with the closing Roundtable crafting the Action Plan for 2011.”*

BFSB is grateful for the collective input from domestic and international participants and the practical insights they provided. The list of distinguished local participants included Government Ministers such as The Hon. T. Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sen. the Hon. John Delaney, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs; and The Hon. Zhivargo S. Laing, Minister of State for Finance. The Hon. L. Ryan Pinder, M.P., represented the Official Opposition.

Also in attendance were the heads of the regulatory bodies: Governor Wendy Craigg of the Central Bank of the Bahamas; Philip Stubbs, Chairman of the Securities Commission of the Bahamas; and Lennox McCartney, Superintendent of the Insurance Commission of the Bahamas. Additionally, several other government officials joined with private sector industry stakeholders and international guests to make up the 140 odd attendees at the annual event.

BFSB is extremely appreciative of the support from Summit Sponsors;
these were:

• **Silver**: Association of International Banks & Trust Companies, KPMG

• **Bronze**: Bahamas Maritime Authority, BORCO, Grand Bahama Port Authority, Ltd. and Julius Baer Bank & Trust Company (Bahamas) ltd.

• **Co-operating**: Bahamasair, Ministry of Tourism, Schooner Bay Ltd.

• **Member Partner**: ATC Trustees (Bahamas) Ltd.

Already, plans are underway for Summit 2012!