42nd Washington Conference on the Americas Global Recovery: The Regional View
WASHINGTON DC, May 8, 2012—In its signature annual Washington event, Council of the Americas brought together senior hemispheric officials to dialogue with private-sector leaders and government representatives at the U.S. State Department today. The 42nd Annual Washington Conference allowed speakers to focus on prioritizing U.S. partnerships with Latin America, as well as the growing importance of regional trade with Asia-Pacific countries. As opening speaker U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns remarked: “The most successful countries and regions will be those that look outward, not inward.”
“Free markets and free people are the key to a secure, prosperous future for all of the Americas,” said U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, addressing the conference. He urged that the United States remain engaged in Latin America and warned that waning interest in the region could threaten the security and prosperity of the Western Hemisphere. COA bestowed Speaker Boehner with its annual Chairman’s Award for Leadership in the Americas—the organization’s highest honor. When presenting the award, COA Chairman John Negroponte praised the speaker’s long-standing commitment to free trade and open markets, as well as for ushering through congressional approval of free-trade pacts with Colombia and Panama. “Without his leadership, the agreements would not have passed together and with such strong bipartisan support.”
The full agenda included distinguished speakers who provided in-depth knowledge and insights into regional affairs. Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Roberta Jacobson highlighted successes of April’s Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, including new hemispheric initiatives that “marked twenty-first-century partnerships.” Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfredo Moreno spoke about his country’s economic progress and the success of its dozens of free trade agreements. Edward Luce of the Financial Times interviewed U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and President of the U.S. Export Import Bank Fred Hochberg, on their perspective on hemispheric trade. Argentina’s Vice President Amado Boudou highlighted his country’s tenth consecutive year of economic growth. To close the conference, Secretary Janet Napolitano of the Department of Homeland Security stressed the connection between economic security and regional security. Ray Suarez of PBS NewsHour interviewed the secretary, who noted the growing sophistication of security cooperation that helped foil a terrorist plot discovered this week.
For complete conference coverage, including agenda and presentations, click here.
PRESS INQUIRIES: Please contact Laura A. González at 1-212-277-8333 or via communications@as-coa.org.
Council of the Americas is the premier international business organization whose members share a common commitment to economic and social development, open markets, the rule of law, and democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere.
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