THE first international business summit held in the Channel Islands has achieved exactly what it set out to, according to leading local figures.

Yesterday’s Channel Islands Stock Exchange event at St Pierre Park Hotel attracted 230 delegates, more than half from outside the island.

CISX chief executive Tamara Menteshvili said the event was created to showcase the finance sector skills on offer and to promote the islands as a place to do business.

‘In many ways I anticipated a very positive reaction and I haven’t been disappointed. I’ve had international delegates coming up to me all day telling me some very positive and interesting things. You can see that people are communicating, cards are being exchanged and that there is a real buzz in the air.’

She predicted an influx of business coming Guernsey’s way.

‘This has all been about relationship managing and client servicing. Our members have invited their clients and others have come directly themselves. We hope that they will take away from this summit some very good information.’

A host of high-profile international and local speakers discussed a variety of pressing global economic issues ranging from the EU directive on alternative investment fund managers to emerging markets and Guernsey and Jersey themselves.

Chief Minister Lyndon Trott was very impressed. ‘I go to a lot of these events through my duties and this one is right up there with the best, especially in terms of the depth and breath of the speakers’ knowledge.’

‘I give my congratulations to the Channel Island Stock Exchange.’