WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ON LATIN AMERICA TAKES PLACE IN PUERTO VALLARTA

Mexico City, April 16- The seventh World Economic Forum on Latin America will take place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on 16-18 April 2012. The meeting, held under the theme “Regional Transformation in a New Global Context”, will convene a record number of participants for this regional gathering, with close to 900 top regional and global leaders from 70 nations.

With the full support of the Government of Mexico and the Forum’s key Strategic Partners, the World Economic Forum on Latin America will convene key decision-makers from government, industry, civil society and academia. Leaders will shape a strategic vision for the region’s growth, gain understanding of its global potential and align stakeholders around that vision to inspire its realization.

Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico, will open this year’s World Economic Forum on Latin America. The programme is designed to develop insights on the priorities of the region’s agenda and is built on three thematic pillars: Rebalancing Global Economic Recovery; Rising Capabilities towards Regional Transformation; and Creating Innovative Models for a Sustainable Future.

“We need to shape a vision and encourage a strong commitment and collaborative action across generations to transform the region and achieve its full global potential.” said Marisol Argueta de Barillas, Senior Director, Head of Latin America, World Economic Forum; “We would like to align different stakeholders in recognizing the region's powerful potential, understanding its risks and finding innovative ways to respond adequately to Latin America’s current and future challenges”.

The Co-Chairs of the meeting reflect the international character of the participants: Sally Blount, Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, USA; H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Prince of Norway; Jeffrey Joerres, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ManpowerGroup, USA; Martin Senn, Group Chief Executive Officer, Zurich Insurance Group, Switzerland; Daniel Servitje, Chief Executive Officer, Grupo Bimbo, Mexico; and Juan Jose Suarez Coppel, Chief Executive Officer, Pemex - Petroleos Mexicanos, Mexico.

Public figures participating in this year’s meeting include five heads of state or government: Désiré Bouterse, President of the Republic of Suriname, Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico, Ricardo Martinelli, President of Panama, Otto Perez Molina, President of Guatemala and Mariano Rajoy Brey, Prime Minister of Spain.

Additional public figures participating in this year’s meeting include Bruno Ferrari Garcia de Alba, Secretary of the Economy of Mexico; Pablo Longueira Montes, Minister of Economic, Development and Tourism of Chile; Karel De Gucht, Commissioner for Trade, European Commission; Angel Gurría, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); José Miguel Insulza, Secretary-General, Organization of American States (OAS); Alicia Barcena Ibarra, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); Luis A. Moreno, President, Inter-American Development Bank; Marlene Malahoo Forte, Senator, Jamaica; Alejandro Poiré Romero, Secretary of the Interior of Mexico; Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico; and Arthur G. Mutambara, Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.

Latin America is notable for its stability and innovative social, agriculture and renewable energy achievements. As such, the region is providing new models to address the future course of world affairs.

With projected 3.5% economic growth for 2012 and a population of 110 million – with 50% under 27 years of age – Mexico has outstanding potential and attracts impressive levels of investment. In 2012, the country will hold presidential elections and chair the G20. Development and financial resilience, food security, employment and green growth are at the top of the agenda.

In Brazil, the Rio+20 Summit will address sustainable development at the global level; and in Colombia, the sixth Summit of the Americas will focus on the connectivity and regional cooperation as a means to overcome the hemisphere’s challenges.

For the first time, the Young Global Leaders (YGLs) Annual Meeting and YGL Alumni Summit will be hosted in Latin America. The Summit will bring more than 300 YGLs and alumni from more than 69 countries. The Forum of Young Global Leaders is a multistakeholder community of exceptional young leaders between the ages of 30 and 40 who share a commitment to address challenges of public interest with the objective of shaping a better future.

With the participation of the energy ministers of Latin America, the second Sustainable Growth Summit will also take place, and will be structured on three pillars: mobility, resources and energy. A meeting between the ministers of economy and anti-corruption officials from the G20 will take place immediately following the World Economic Forum on Latin America.

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