Ideas Economy: Colombia. Driving growth in Latin America. May 21st 2013

Transcription

1 Ideas Economy: Colombia Driving growth in Latin America May 21st 2013 After a decade of transformational growth, Colombia has become one of Latin America's most important economies and a gateway to global business in the region. The Ideas Economy: Colombia summit will explore the challenges and opportunities ahead as Colombia works to confirm its place as a significant global force for business and economic growth in the twenty-first century. Already, a friendly investor climate is encouraging multinationals to headquarter their Latin American offices in Colombia. The city of Medellín has become a destination for new entrepreneurs. Colombia has been dubbed "the new Brazil" because of rapid economic growth and robust foreign investment. Yet, to continue down a path of sustainable growth, some of Colombia's most fundamental challenges need to be resolved, namely poor infrastructure, economic inequality, corruption and security concerns. What are the global and regional business alliances that will define Colombia's future? Will Colombia's commodity boom help build a more resilient economy? How can Colombia thrive as a business hub for multinationals and multilatinas? What are the most effective infrastructure financing models? How can Colombia capitalise on financial integration, such as Mercado Integrado Latinoamericano? What role does education, health care and tax reform play in alleviating poverty? Will Colombia be a launch pad for new businesses? What impact will peace talks have on political and economic reform? Chaired by Americas editor, Michael Reid, The Economist's sharp thinking and distinct perspective will draw upon leading policy-makers and business minds--across industries and sectors--to encourage intelligent dialogue about the future of social and economic progress in Colombia and beyond. Will the nation succeed in tackling some of the most significant barriers to lasting progress? Or will it merely tinker around the edges and miss its chance to become a last economic force of the twenty-first century? The Ideas Economy: Colombia summit is designed for a wide range of business leaders, entrepreneurs, decisionmakers, public officials and global executives who are invested in the future of Colombia. Together with The Economist's editors and featured guests, this event offers a full day of stimulating, interactive discussion and debate with a practical focus on business issues in Colombia in the broader context of large-scale macroeconomic trends.

2 Event chairs Irene Mia, Regional Director, Latin America, Economist Intelligence Unit Confirmed speakers German Arce, President, Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos Adi Alon, Partner, Accenture Yolanda Auza, Vice-president, Latin America, Unisys Samuel Azout, Founder and Chairman, Fundación Futbol con Corazon Alicia Barcena, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, United Nations Matthew Bishop, US business editor, The Economist Sibylla Brodzinsky, Co-editor, Throwing Stones at the Moon Mauricio Cardenas, Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Republic of Colombia Antonio Celia, Chief executive, Promigas Christian Deseglise, Co-director, BRICLab, Columbia University; Managing director, Global Asset Management, HSBC Sergio Fajardo, Governor of Antioquia Ramiro Gonzalez Prandi, Managing director, Itau BBA Colombia María Carolina Hoyos, Vice-minister, Information Technologies and Communications, Republic of Colombia Carlos Jacks, Chief executive, CEMEX Latam Holdings Christian Laub, Chief executive, Credicorp Capital; President, Bolsa de Valores de Lima Cecilia Lopez, Former Minister and Senator; President, CISOE Juan Manuel Santos, President, Republic of Colombia Oscar Naranjo Trujillo, Director, Instituto Latinoamericano de Ciudadanía, Sistema Tecnológico de Monterrey; Former national police chief, Republic of Colombia Catalina Ortiz, Executive director, innpulsa Adriana Noreña, Managing director, Spanish-speaking Latin America, Google Luis Guillermo Plata, Former Minister of Commerce, Trade and Tourism Karen Poniachik, Director, Columbia Global Centers, Columbia University; Former minister of mining for Chile Jose Juan Ruiz, Chief economist, Inter-American Development Bank Fabiola Sojet, Chief executive, GE Colombia David Spencer, Professor of Transnational Threats, Center For Hemispheric Defense Studies Blanca Treviño, Chief executive, Softtek 7.30 am Registration and refreshments 8.30 am Opening remarks 8.45 am Prelude: The Colombia story Megatrends shaping the country s future Introduction: Irene Mia, Regional Director, Latin America, The Economist Intelligence Unit Alicia Barcena, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, United Nations Jose Juan Ruiz, Chief economist, Inter-American Development Bank

3 Moderator: Irene Mia, Regional Director, Latin America, Economist Intelligence Unit Act I Top down 9.30 am Neighbors with benefits? For the past two decades political leaders have focused on the idea of regional integration, but where does it stand today? This two-part session will start by exploring the global and regional alliances that will define Colombia s future and then delve deeper into the consequences for business. How can Colombia thrive as a hub for multinationals and multilatinas? What does this mean for investment and new businesses launching in Colombia? Interview with Luis Guillermo Plata, Former Minister of Commerce, Trade and Tourism Christian Deseglise, Co-director, BRICLab, Columbia University; Managing director, Global Asset Management, HSBC Christian Laub, Chief executive, Credicorp Capital; President, Bolsa de Valores de Lima Moderator: am Infrastructure and the Colombia cost For new businesses and existing ones expanding in Colombia, everything comes with a cost. A large portion of it can be attributed to Colombia s creaking transport network. What lessons can be taken away from stories of reinvention from megacities around the world [including Medellin, which has been recently named the most innovative city in the world by the Urban Land Institute] that have transformed themselves via innovative financing and smart urban planning? How can innovation in urban policy lead to innovation in business? An interview with Sergio Fajardo, Governor of Antioquia Followed by a panel: Ramiro Gonzalez Prandi, Managing director, Itau BBA Colombia Carlos Jacks, Chief executive, CEMEX Latam Holdings Fabiola Sojet, Chief executive, GE Colombia Moderator: am Networking break am Commodity boom Colombia has experienced a resources boom in oil, coal and gold and a recent law aims to improve on the distribution of royalties. How can Colombia ensure that its success doesn t undermine the diversification of the economy? What can it learn from countries that have mitigated Dutch disease*? (A decline in a country s manufacturing sector due to the exploitation of natural resources). German Arce, President, Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos Mauricio Cardenas, Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Republic of Colombia

4 Karen Poniachik, Director, Columbia Global Centers, Columbia University; Former minister of mining for Chile Moderator: Irene Mia, Regional Director, Latin America, Economist Intelligence Unit Act II Bottom up pm Poverty and progress Colombia is still one of the most economically unequal countries in the world. How can the country ensure that the bottom of the pyramid reap the benefits of Colombia s steady economic growth? What is the role of the private sector in alleviating extreme poverty? Samuel Azout, Founder and Chairman, Fundación Futbol con Corazon Antonio Celia, Chief executive, Promigas Cecilia Lopez, Former Minister and Senator; President, CISOE Moderator: Matthew Bishop, US business editor, The Economist 1.15 pm Lunch Sponsored by Pacific Rubiales **Please note that lunch is included for all attendees 2.15 pm Security in Colombia As a promising new round of peace talks begin, what will be the implications for the economy, regional political relationships and the drug trade? What is the role of the private sector in the reintegration process? Even if a peace process is reached, what will be the major security risks facing businesses and everyday Colombians? Sibylla Brodzinsky, Co-editor, Throwing Stones at the Moon Oscar Naranjo Trujillo, Director, Instituto Latinoamericano de Ciudadanía, Sistema Tecnológico de Monterrey ; Former national police chief, Republic of Colombia David Spencer, Professor of Transnational Threats, Center For Hemispheric Defense Studies Moderator: Act III The way forward 3.00 pm Net impact The impact of the internet on economic growth Adriana Noreña, Managing director, Spanish-speaking Latin America, Google 3.15 pm The new creator economy Rapid privatisation in Colombia has made it one of the most inviting places to do business in all of Latin America. High levels of labour productivity are attracting foreign investors, yet unemployment remains high. What can businesses do to spur innovation? Can entrepreneurs create high-paying jobs? What is the role of technology in fostering innovation? What is the role of the government? Adi Alon, Partner, Accenture

5 María Carolina Hoyos, Vice-minister, Information Technologies and Communications, Republic of Colombia Catalina Ortiz, Executive director, innpulsa Moderator: Matthew Bishop, US business editor, The Economist 4.00 pm Going global In today's globalised and highly competitive business environment, in order for companies to succeed they must seek out global talent and harness it effectively to build innovative organisations.this session will explore the keys to finding and retaining talent in Latin America, with a special focus on technology. Yolanda Auza, Vice-president, Latin America, Unisys Blanca Treviño, Chief executive, Softtek Moderator: Irene Mia, Regional Director, Latin America, Economist Intelligence Unit 4.30 pm Networking break 4.45 pm Town hall Questions and answers with Economist editors Matthew Bishop, US business editor, The Economist Irene Mia, Regional Director, Latin America, Economist Intelligence Unit Moderator: Luis Carlos Velez, News director, Caracol TV 5.00 pm View from the top Insights on policy and progress the Santos administration 5.30 pm End of event Juan Manuel Santos, President, Republic of Colombia Interviewer: