Wednesday 16 April

The Latin America Question  
 
The wider public contributed to the World Economic Forum on Latin America 2008 by answering the Latin America Question, "what key action do you think countries, companies or individuals should take to make Latin America a better place in 2008?".   
The Latin America Question

Education identified as priority for Latin America into the next decade

In the closing session of the World Economic Forum on Latin America, business, government and civil society leaders identified the need to construct values and skills-driven education systems as the top priority for Latin America to achieve sustainable development and lay the foundation for a promising decade starting in 2010. “It is the number one issue,” said Oscar Arias Sánchez, the President of Costa Rica, noting the low proportion of teenagers who go on to university. “If we don’t educate people, it will be very difficult to have progress.”
Press Release I Photos I Session summary

Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 in Mexico is Announced

Margarita Barney, Founder of the Group to Promote Education and Sustainable Development (GRUPEDSAC) is nominated as this year's award winner in Mexico at the closing plenary of the World Economic Forum on Latin America. GRUPEDSAC, which Barney founded, disseminates technologies that help address the lack of water, food insecurity, rural migration and inadequate housing. The other two finalists were Cecilio Solis Librado, Founder of the Red Indigena de Turismo and Alicia Leal, Alternativas Pacíficas.
In total, 19 leading social entrepreneurs from all over Latin America, Germany, India and the USA were active participants in the discussions at the World Economic Forum on Latin America Meeting taking place in Cancun. Their primary focus in not profit-maximization, but maximizing the benefit for society and the environment. They develop innovative pro-poor business models in various fields such as microfinance, waste management, health, education and rural development.
Finalists (PDF) I Finalistas (PDF) I Press Release 

Central American leaders warn of impact of high food and oil prices

Central American leaders at the World Economic Forum on Latin America warned that the impact of climbing food and oil prices could undo recent gains that their economies have made. “This is a perfect storm,” said Elias Antonio Saca, the President of El Salvador. “How long can we withstand the situation? We have to feed our people and commodities are becoming scarce. This scandalous storm might become a hurricane that could upset not only our economies but also the stability of our countries.”
Press Release I Photos I Session summary

Uncertain political landscape ahead for Latin America
The political future of Latin America seems uncertain agreed panelists in a session on the political state of the region, especially given the recent spat between Ecuador and Colombia, rumblings in Venezuela, and the presidential elections and economic downturn in the United States. Moisés Naím, Editor-in-Chief, Foreign Policy Magazine, USA, expressed surprise at how good the economy has been in Latin America, even though there had been political instability. “The last four years have been the best economically since 1492,” he said.
Session summary I Photos I The Latin America Question

Tuesday 15 April

World Economic Forum on Latin America Opens  
The World Economic Forum on Latin America opened with the Co-Chairs of the two-day meeting agreeing that Latin America is in a better position to withstand a slowdown of the global economy and a possible recession in the US. A key factor contributing to the region's more robust economic position was the sharp increase in recent years of trade and investment with emerging Asian economies such as China and India that are heavy consumers of energy and raw materials
Press release I Español (PDF) I Session summary I Photos
 

Solving the Energy Puzzle Through Innovation
How can we deliver secure, affordable, low-carbon energy to a global population that is expected to grow from 6.4 billion today to more than 8 billion by 2030? This question has captured the attention of the energy industry, policy-makers and consumers, but there are no easy answers. Through its Energy community, the World Economic Forum today launched a report entitled “Solving the Energy Puzzle Through Innovation”. Produced in partnership with Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), the report includes perspectives from a number of prominent experts and decision-makers.
Watch the interview l Press release I Report


Over 500 top leaders gather in Cancun, Mexico
The World Economic Forum on Latin America is bringing together over 500 senior global leaders from business, politics, government, academia, civil society and the media from 46 countries. Under the theme “Securing a Place in an Uncertain Economic Landscape”, the meeting is being co-hosted by the Government of Mexico under the patronage of President Felipe Calderón, who is participating in the event.
Press release

Global Risks 2008
As Latin American policymakers, thought leaders and representatives from business gather for the World Economic Forum in Latin America, the region’s recent economic growth highlights its potential to improve its position in the world economy. Realising this potential, however, will mean the region will have to confront a number of risks, highlighted in the Forum’s Global Risk Network’s report Global Risks 2008. To mark the Cancún meeting, the Global Risk Network, in collaboration with its Report Partners Swiss Re and Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC), is featuring a Spanish translation of Global Risks 2008.
Download the Report in Spanish (pdf)

Co-Chairs
José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras, Brazil
Alejandro Baillères, Chief Executive Officer, Grupo Nacional Provincial, Mexico
Samuel A. DiPiazza, Global CEO, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, USA
José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, FEMSA, Mexico
Guo Shuqing, Chairman, China Construction Bank, People's Republic of China
William R. Rhodes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Citibank, North America, Citi, USA

Quotes

“Countries in Latin America now favour dialogue and agreement rather than intransigence and exclusion.” 
Jaime Morales Carazo, Vice-President of Nicaragua

"Our generation will see the rebuilding of the wealth of nations."
Javier Santiso, Director and Chief Development Economist, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris

 “Because of democratization, the opening of markets and globalization, Latin American countries have options they didn’t have before.”  “We[USA] are not the only ones around. This is a competitive environment.”  Thomas A. Shannon Jr, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, US Department of State, USA,

“In the past five years, we have never seen the global economy grow as fast ever.”  “If China keeps on growing, Latin America will do well.”   Ricardo Hausmann, Director, Center for International Development, and Professor of the Practice of Economic Development, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.

 “Unpredictability is the name of the game in Latin America.”  “We have been working towards more transparency, which is important for domestic and foreign investors. Most important is good governance.”
Roberto Teixeira da Costa, Member of the Board, Sul America, Brazil

“The situation of Latin America to deal with what’s happening with the world economy has never been stronger.”
Alejandro Baillères, Chief Executive Officer of Grupo Nacional Provincial of Mexico

"Mexico aspires to be a global leader in logistics and connectivity, and the World Economic Forum in Latin America is an invaluable platform for promoting this effort and bringing concrete, short-tem results to the entire region”. 
Eduardo Sojo, Economy Minister, Mexico