Home arrow Events arrow Outlook on the Americas and Strategic Planning Retreat
Outlook on the Americas and Strategic Planning Retreat

 Image

Ines Calderon and Gateway Florida were invited to attend the “Outlook on the Americas” summit and subsequent retreat, which took place at the Biltmore Hotel from January 13-14, 2009. Organizations from both the public and private sectors were invited to join the two-day conference. The summit, hosted by the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America, set forth the following five objectives:


1)    Support Congressional approval and full implementation of pending free trade agreements along with strong enforcement of existing trade agreements.
2)    Promote the adoption of trade facilitation measures throughout the Western Hemisphere that enhance regional and national competitiveness.
3)    Foster innovation, harness creativity, and champion intellectual property as vital to generating solutions to challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean.
4)    To serve as a resource and a voice for U.S. business and its social interests, highlighting those areas conducive to social and economic development.
5)    Support regional security while facilitating trade at entry points, domestic movement of goods and ensuring efficient visa policies.

A wide-range of topics were explored, including, President Obama’s inherited role in Latin America and its effect on NAFTA, the rift with Chavez in Venezuela and the feasibility of a successful Doha round outcome. In regards to a potential failure of the Doha round, Mr. Shanker Singham, Partner of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, signaled a need for a “coalition of the willing” to create a regional free trade zone, although he jestingly expressed his regret for the particular phrasing. He also stressed that the key driving force behind trade is to enhance consumer welfare. All panelists agreed that both inefficient trade barriers and an increasing government hand in economy are unconstructive.  

The luncheon ended with a keynote address from former Ambassador Craig Kelly, who is currently serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. Ambassador Kelly broke down the Pathways to Prosperity initiative and commented on the outcome of the ministerial meeting in Panama. Although the initiative is still in its infantile stage, he highlighted the fact that the countries involved thus far represent 44% of the global GDP. All of the speakers had bleak forecasts for 2009 but each presented important strategies to weather the current crisis and set the stage for rapid growth in 2010.
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]