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Cartagena stages World Economic Forum on Latin America

By Manuel Rueda, Editorial Director

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

More than 600 top executives and economic policy makers from Latin America and five other continents will meet in Cartagena this week to discuss the regions economic siutation and talk about the way in which to bring more foreign investment to this part of the world.

 

Participants at the World Economic Forum on Latin America – which will also include the Presidents of Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, and the Dominican Republic -- will debate issues as varied as the population growth crisis, democracy and governance, developing green economies, and reducing economic inequalities in Latin America.

 

The World Economic Forum is a non-profit organization based in Switzerland which also organizes the annual economic meetings at Davos, which are atended by leaders of the worlds most poweful countries.

 

The WEFs decision to stage its Latin America meeting in Cartagena has been regarded as “an expresión of confidence in Colombia” by President Alvaro Uribe and the city has been preparing thoroughly for this event.

 

Dance troupes and musicians are welcoming WEF participants at the Cartagena airport and all sorts of service industry workers, from taxis to shoe shiners, are listing their fares in English.

 

A special police force of more than 1,500 officers has been deployed to provide security for the event along with more than fifteen tourist information kiosques which have been set up around the city and the ministry of comerce is distributing some 1,700 t-shirts to promote the event.

 

For Colombian officials the WEF meeting is a means through which to promote tourism and investment in Colombia and bolster the country's image amongst important investors and executives.

 

Participants at the Cartagena meeting will include SAB Miller CEO Graham Mackay, Mexican Telecommunications magnate Emilio Azcarraga, and Bank of America's Latin America boss James Quigley.

 

Some two hundred journalists are expected to cover the event.

 

The meetings will be held at the Cartagena convention center between Tuesday April 6th and Thursday April 8th.