Cross-border conference aims to boost the hemisphere’s competitiveness
Representatives of 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere (including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke) gather in Atlanta November 14 through 16 for the Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) IV. The annual forum is designed to provide a platform for public- and private-sector leaders to identify and lay plans to overcome obstacles to economic growth. Key topics of this fourth annual forum: green technologies; education and workforce development; entrepreneurship and small business development; and trade facilitation, border clearance, and supply chain logistics. On the agenda are business-to-business meetings, export counseling and “conversations on market opportunities” — actually six regionally-focused discussions by economics ministers on their countries’ competitive priorities and opportunities for doing business. For one measure of the Americas’ potential market opportunity, take a look at DuPont’s sales penetration comparison chart, presented at last year’s ACF. For the latest information on the 2010 ACF participants and agenda of meetings, presentations and workshops, go to http://bit.ly/aDgHFn.
Source: Americas Competitiveness Forum 2009