FIU to co-host the 12th Annual Miami Herald Americas Conference


MIAMIAn internationally distinguished group of government officials and business leaders will gather in Coral Gables on October 1- 3, 2008 for the 12th annual Miami Herald Americas Conference, a three-day summit co-hosted by Florida International University.

The acclaimed forum, covering economic, political and public policy issues facing the region, is expected to draw top executives and political leaders from the region. They include Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez and Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

The conference will kick off with a special address by David Landsberg, president and publisher of The Miami Herald, followed by roundtable discussions that will focus on the region’s good governance and economic development.

This year, The Herald and FIU joined forces, combining the Americas Conference with the university’s First Conference on Good Governance in the Hemisphere. Along with the State of Florida’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, FIU’s Institute for Public Management and Community Service (IPMCS) will work with the Herald to draw more than 500 of the hemisphere’s key decision makers.

“By coming together, FIU and The Herald are providing a forum for leaders in our hemisphere to discuss the issues that are defining our region in the 21st century,” said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique, who will participate in a panel. “The Americas play a pivotal role in the global community and it is our duty to promote this important discussion with our international neighbors about the future of Latin America and the Caribbean.”

The opening day will feature panels and discussions on important topics such as strengthening democracy, political parties and elections in Latin America, civic engagement and public accountability, inequity in race and ethnicity, energy, technology and security.

The Director of the IPMCS, Allan Rosenbaum, noted that the conference will provide an opportunity for people to exchange ideas about the building of democratic institutions and the promotion of good governance and economic development.

Other confirmed panelists include:

  • Carlos Filizzola, Senator, National Congress of Paraguay
  • David Martinez, President, Fundacion Pais, Guatemala
  • Romero Jorge Rodriguez, Advisor to President of Uruguay, Office of Racial Equality
  • Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Ambassador to the United States, Brazil
  • Mauricio Nicholls, General Manager, Chevron
  • Mustafa Mohatarem, Chief Economist, General Motors
  • Lugo Lavados Montes, Minister of Economy, Chile
  • Rebeca Patricia Santor, Minister of Finance, Honduras
  • Ricardo Esmahan, Minister of Economy, El Salvador
  • Genaro Garcia Luna, Secretary of Public Security, Mexico
  • Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belize
  • Anthony Johnson, Ambassador to the United States, Jamaica
  • D. Hector Marcos Timerman, Ambassador to the United States, Argentina
  • Luis Gallegos, Ambassador to the United States, Ecuador
  • Mariano Fernandez, Ambassador to the United States, Chile
  • Roberto Flores Bermudez, Ambassador to the United States, Honduras

For a complete list of panelists and more information about the Americas Conference 2008, please visit our website at www.americasconference.com. For more information, and media inquiries please contact: Sonia Diaz at (305) 347-4396, or write to AmericasConference@bm.com.

About the Americas Conference

The Americas Conference, organized by The Miami Herald and Florida International University, is the region’s largest and most acclaimed annual forum of international executives and top government leaders, who gather for two days to discuss a wide spectrum of relevant business and political issues of crucial importance for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Miami Herald Americas Conference is presented by General Motors as Official Sponsor; Greenberg Traurig and Chevron as corporate sponsors and the Inter-American Development Bank as a programming partner; American Airlines and Burson-Marsteller as Associate Sponsors. Media Partners include: Radio Caracol, América Economía, Revista Competencia and Marketwire.

About IPMCS

Located in the Department of Public Administration at FIU, the The Institute for Public Management and Community Service (IPMCS) coordinates training programs and technical assistance for various countries. Established in 1994, the Institute has trained thousands of public servants to be more effective, transparent and responsive. To learn more about the IPMCS involvement with local institution building, visit www.ipmcs.fiu.edu.

About FIU

Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, FIU graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the country. Its 17 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University.” In 2006 FIU was authorized to establish a medical school, which will welcome its first class in 2009. FIU’s College of Law recently received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association.

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