The Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean is holding the conference titled "Outlook on the Americas" today in South Florida.
Spokesperson Neil Harrington says business and political leaders will come together for an open dialogue on the economic and political issues that impact trade and investment. "We'll focus on topics of regional interest pertinent to economic development and what governments are doing and how the private sectors in the region can help augment that." He says they'll also discuss the new U.S. administration. "The administration is so new and the confirmation process is still ongoing. I think the conclusion will be, this is a process that will play out over the next six months to a year to really understand the economic priorities of the new administration and how our member countries fit in."
Governor Rick Scott and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez are expected to address trade in our state and county. "Fifteen of Florida's top twenty export markets are in this hemisphere with about 52% of the state's exports going to markets in the Americans so it's obviously integral to Florida's economy especially South Florida's economy."
He says the Chamber's 20,000 member companies manage over 80 percent of all U.S. investment in the region. The next event is scheduled to take place in Managua, Nicaragua in June.
(Photo credit: Joe Raedle)