Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder said yesterday that the government’s re-creation of his ministry shows that it has renewed its commitment to the financial services industry.

“A mandate of the Ministry of Financial Services is to promote the financial services industry of The Bahamas, create new financial products and seek out new linkages and opportunities to work with international partners,” Minister Pinder said.

“We as a country have a commitment to ensuring that The Bahamas is not only first off the lips when it comes to choice international financial centres, but that our product offering is the most progressive and effective in the international marketplace.”

“We collectively look forward to the advancement of the industry and the country, working in partnership with all interested parties, private sector, policymakers and the regulators to ensure the advancement of the country.”

Minister Pinder was addressing The Nassau Conference 2012 at the British Colonial Hilton.

The Ministry of Financial Services was the lead sponsor of the event.

Minister Pinder commended the Association of International Banks and Trust (AIBT) Companies and the organisers of the event for all their hard work and “creating a forum for continued education and exposure of our financial services industry.”

“The various topics to be discussed are very timely in every instance, and the level of speakers, panelists and moderators are second to none internationally,” Minister Pinder said. “I want to personally welcome the participants, and certainly all those who travelled from abroad to be a part of this event today.”

“I am particularly pleased to welcome, and I will speak more about this initiative, the students from the College of The Bahamas who are here today in the audience, learning from a practical point of view about the industry that they strive to build a career in, welcome.”

Minister Pinder said that over the many decades as an international financial centre, The Bahamas has demonstrated that it is a jurisdiction with a highly skilled workforce, a long history of integrity, a well-regulated industry where wealth is managed and – in turn – positioned for international business and investment globally.

“In this vein, we remain committed to the philosophy of confidentiality and look to work hand-in-hand with the regulators to ensure that we are a jurisdiction sensitive to the operation of the private sector and an inviting jurisdiction to the international financial services participants,” he said. “We are a global business hub; we are the gateway to the Americas, acting as a natural partner for international business.”

Minister Pinder told conference participants that the first two discussions that day, the recent promotional trips in partnership with the Bahamas Financial Services Board to Brazil and the participation in the recent STEP LATAM Conference in Panama by him as the Minister of Financial Services, demonstrate the “obvious” inter-connection between The Bahamas and Latin America.

“This is clearly a coordinated approach by The Bahamas, a sovereign nation, to focus on Latin America, in financial services, and other areas of economic development such as trade,” Minister Pinder said. “We are the Gateway to the Americas, our geographic location, being in the same time zone, having a longstanding reputation in the region, an independent nation, a developed international financial centre positions The Bahamas to be the leader in this regard.”

Having said that, Minister Pinder added, The Bahamas also recognises its history and ongoing relationships with European clients.

“We as a jurisdiction continue our commitment to our historical client base, as well as the commitment to be the preeminent jurisdiction for wealth management, recognising our place as a jurisdiction that operates within international best practices,” he said.

Minister Pinder reiterated that the government is committed to doubling the investment in education and training. The Nassau Conference, he said, is an example of this commitment.

“The Ministry of Financial Services has demonstrated its commitment to the development of human capital here in The Bahamas through the launch of our continuing education seminar for financial services professionals this month,” Minister Pinder said.

“The advancement of our human capital domestically in The Bahamas not only promotes career development but also allows for The Bahamas to be a superior jurisdiction in financial services.”

He personally thanked AIBT for partnering with the Ministry of Financial Services in the development of the young human capital of the Bahamas by welcoming 25 College Of the Bahamas students to the symposium that day. The students have the opportunity to be exposed to “cutting edge” issues presented by some of the best practitioners in the world as they prepare to develop a career in financial services, Minister Pinder said.

“Through the sponsorship by the Ministry of Financial Services, we have allowed for the opportunity for 10 of the College of The Bahamas students to experience real world training. They will be awarded summer internships to international financial institution members of AIBT,” Minister Pinder said.