ATLANTA HOSTED THE SECOND ANNUAL AMERICAS COMPETITIVENESS FORUM
This month, the City of Atlanta was host to the second annual Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF), this important event is organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce in partnership with the City of Atlanta and International Training Center for Government Authorities (CIFAL Atlanta), a not-for profit organization created by the United Nations. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is the Chair of CIFAL Atlanta’s Board of Trustees, and she will co-host the ACF with Secretary of Commerce Mr. Carlos Gutierrez.
The forum provides an opportunity for governments, the business community, and representatives from academia and non-governmental organizations to discuss actions that can be taken to improve competitiveness and economic prosperity in the Americas.
The 2008 ACF had more than 1,000 participants, including top level government officials from almost all countries in the Americas and three heads of State: Mr. Alvaro Colom Caballeros, president of Guatemala; Mr. Elias Antonio Saca Gonzalez, president of El Salvador; and Mr. Alvaro Uribe Velez, president of Colombia.
Mexico’s participation at the event included Mr. Gerardo Ruiz Mateos, Secretary of Economy, Mr. Rodolfo Elizondo Torres, Secretary of Tourism and Mr. Jorge Lopez, Director of International Promotion of ProMexico.
The 2008 Americas Competitiveness Forum facilitated an interactive discussion on important drivers of competitiveness, including: trade logistics, market opportunities in renewable energy and sustainable resources, alliances in business and education and travel and tourism.
In 2009 the forum will be held in Santiago, Chile, but it will be back in Atlanta in 2010.
Source:U.S. Department of Commerce and Americas Competitiveness Forum
