The Guernsey Registry was voted in unanimously by the Assembly of ECRF at the Assembly's annual meeting, held in Belgrade on 20th June, the States of Guernsey announced earlier this week.

Guernsey becomes the 30th country member of ECRF.

ECRF was founded in 2000 following pan-European registry conferences held in Latvia, Sweden and the UK, with the purpose to improve the Commerce Registers services to trade and industry and to business life in general.

The main goals of ECRF are to: create an efficient environment for starting-up and developing innovative businesses, especially SMEs; prepare the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe for integration into the internal market of the European Union; create an open and transparent environment for business throughout Europe; and simplify of the regulatory environment in order to reduce the administrative burdens on businesses.

Commerce and Employment Minister, Deputy McNulty Bauer, commented: "This is a vital step in achieving international recognition for Guernsey's new Registry. It means that Guernsey has a genuine part in the ongoing development of Registry services across Europe, and through the ongoing exchange of information on other registries' strategies we will also be able to ensure that the Guernsey Registry is internationally competitive.

He added: "ECRF membership also enhances the international reputation of Guernsey as a provider of Registry services."