ÿþ<html> <head> <title> LATIN ECONOMIC FORUM : 2007 : PROGRAM </title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <style type="text/css"> .norm {font-size: 12px; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-weight: norm; line-height: 18px;} .subnorm {FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica, Arial; FONT-SIZE: 9px; LINE-HEIGHT: 15px;} .desname {FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica, Arial; FONT-SIZE: 14px; LINE-HEIGHT: 16px;} body { scrollbar-track-color: #FFffff; scrollbar-arrow-color: #cccccc; scrollbar-face-color: #837965; scrollbar-shadow-color: #999999; scrollbar-darkshadow-color: #333333; scrollbar-3dlight-color: #dddddd; scrollbar-highlight-color: #ad9a2d; } A:visited {text-decoration: none; color: #ad9a2d; } A:hover {text-decoration: underline; color: #c55530; } A:link {text-decoration: none;} A:active {text-decoration: none;} </style> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" link=837965 alink=c55530 vlink=ad9a2d> <center> <br> <a href="../"> <img src="/images/logo.gif" width="307" height="133" alt="Latin Economic Forum" border=0></a> <br><br> <table id="menu" width="646" height=60"><tr><td align=left> <font color=837965 size=2> <a href="/2007/program.html"><img src="/2007/images/logosmall.gif" border=0 alt=""> PROGRAM </a><br> <a href="/2007/schedule.html">&raquo; SCHEDULE </a><br> <a href="http://www.latineconomicforum.org/2007/sponsors.html">&raquo; SPONSORS </a><br> <a href="/2007/cybersource/registration.php"> &raquo; REGISTRATION </a><br> <a href="http://www.latineconomicforum.org/2007/mission.html"> &raquo; MISSION STATEMENT</a><br> <a href="/2007/annualmeeting.html">&raquo; ANNUAL MEETING</a><br> <a href="http://www.latineconomicforum.org/2007/events.html">&raquo; LEF EVENTS</a><br> <a href="/2007/contact.html">&raquo; CONTACT &amp; LOCATION </a><br> <a href="http://www.latineconomicforum.org/2006/index.htm">&raquo; PREVIOUS CONFERENCE</a><br> <br> </td></tr></table> <!-- middle --> <table id="collage" width="646" height="389" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr><td> <img src="/2007/images/sessions1.jpg" alt=" Innovation The increase of knowledge-based industries and the swift rate of technological change have generated a new model of development. Innovation presents a unique opportunity for new policies and institutions to support rapid economic growth. Key areas include wireless technologies and services in Latin America, which is viewed as the most important expansion market for wireless services today. Groundbreaking ideas in the private and public sectors can pay enormous dividends. Investment in research, education, training, technology and innovation encourage global competitiveness and sustainable development. The Innovation working session will examine the strategic elements necessary to support knowledge propagation in the expansion of technologies, products and industries. " Develop strategies for governments to take an active role in closing the technological gap " Achieve stronger links between research and development " Foster opportunities for the exchange of information and knowledge Energy and Climate Change Energy and climate change are inextricably linked. With global demand for energy expanding sharply, states and firms will increasingly need to find new sources of energy, develop innovative technologies, and improve efficiency. As new evidence of unprecedented changes in the earth s climate continues to emerge, energy producers and consumers will have to consider the need for more climate-friendly approaches. Latin American companies are at the crossroads and new initiatives are required to tackle these challenges. Latin America needs abundant and inexpensive clean energy sources. The region faces a sharp increase in energy use, and at the same time needs to enhance energy security while reducing carbon emissions. The Energy and Climate Change session will explore these and other issues: " Clean energy markets in the developing world " New approaches to protecting tropical forests " Innovative state and local solutions to climate change " The future of coal in a carbon-constrained world " Green building practices " International policies to fight global warming " Latin American-led initiatives for the second phase of the global climate negotiations and the Kyoto Protocol after 2012" </td></tr></table> <br> <table id="collage" width="646" height="389" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr><td> <img src="/images/sessions2.jpg" alt=" "Foreign Direct Investment Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is an important determinant of Latin America s economic growth. It can provide host economies with improved production facilities, access to new technology, products and skills. Net FDI inflows to Latin America, excluding financial centers, grew by 11% from 2004 to 2005 and reached a record high of $647 billion in 2006. Factors promoting FDI include a country s economic growth, low commodity prices, political and institutional stability, and an encouraging business environment. The Foreign Direct Investment session will examine active and passive policy strategies that attract FDI and will included a discussion of the effects of FDI on development. " Incentives, policies and effectiveness, targeting strategies " FDI for research and development " Impact of FDI on growth and development " How to make the most of FDI in Latin American countries " The role of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol (According to the World Bank in 2006, the CDM achieved an $8 billion investment in clean technologies in developing nations. A $10 billion investment in Latin America is expected during this decade.) DR-CAFTA The United States-Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) is the latest in a series of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that the United States has entered into with its neighbors in the Western Hemisphere. DR-CAFTA is expected to eliminate all tariffs on 80% of U.S.-manufactured goods, with the remainder phased out over a few years. Importantly, the agreement is not limited to manufactured goods, but covers virtually every type of trade and commercial exchange between these countries and the U.S. It is also expected to strengthen regulatory standards and environmental protections in Central America and the Dominican Republic and provide for independent, outside monitoring. The DR-CAFTA session will address cutting-edge issues in connection with DR-CAFTA by exploring: " What is DR-CAFTA? " How does the agreement benefit U.S. exporters? " How does the agreement benefit U.S. importers? " How is DR-CAFTA expected to lift state monopolies on insurance and telecommunications? " </td></tr></table> <br> <table id="menu" width="646" height=60"><tr><td align=left> <font color=837965 size=2><font color=837965 size=1>&copy; 2007 Latin Economic Forum <img src="/2007/images/logosmall.gif"> a 501(c)3 organization <img src="/images/logosmall.gif"> www.LatinEconomicForum.org <img src="/images/logosmall.gif"> tel + 212.535.1327 <img src="/images/logosmall.gif"> fax + 212.572.6499 <img src="/images/logosmall.gif"> </td></tr></table> </center> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-981767-7"; urchinTracker(); </script> </body> </html>