Americas Competitiveness Forum V

Dec 6, 2011

Americas Competitiveness Forum V

 

The fifth annual Americas Competitiveness Forum was held October 5-7 2011 in the beautiful and historic city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The largest and most highly attended Competitiveness Forum to date was hosted by His Excellency Dr. Leonel Fernåndez Reyna, President of the Dominican Republic. The forum was attended by over 1,000 senior business and government officials, including ministers of economy, industry, and finance from more than 30 countries throughout the Western Hemisphere. Also present were former and current heads of state, as well as representatives from multinational corporations and international organizations.

Under the pledge of “Committed to Education to Compete” and through the collective efforts of CIFAL Atlanta, the Competitiveness Council of the Dominican Republic (CNC) and FUNGLODE, the Americas Competitiveness Forum focused on 5 key drivers of competitiveness:

-        Innovation in Services

-        Education

-        Renewable Energy

-        Business Climate

-        Trade Facilitation

Highlighting education for the 21st century, CIFAL Atlanta, with the support of Promethean, Intel, Pearson, Positivo Informatica, Royal Technologies and DidaTech succeeded in implementing a simulated “Classroom of the XXI Century”. Within this platform and with the support of the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Madame Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez, CIFAL Atlanta was able to facilitate the donation of an Interactive Board and digital content on science from Promethean, Classmate PCs of Intel, E-blocks from Positivo Informatica, and Digital content and literature on Math and English from Pearson to School Celina Pellier and their students.

In addition to panels and keynote discussions on competitiveness, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in attendance at the opening banquet on October 5, 2011. Secretary Clinton stated that, “… education, is one of the foundational steps that must be taken.  Educating our citizens to compete is the theme of this year’s forum.  And I know that you understand, because you are here, that unless we improve the education and training of our workforces, we will not grow to the full extent of our potential.  So focusing on education is absolutely essential.”

The Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC) also held its yearly meeting during the framework of the ACF, bringing together representatives from more than 30 public and private competitiveness councils from the Western Hemisphere to discuss the state of the region’s competitiveness, exchange experiences and best practices, and consider reforms and public policies. At this year’s meeting, the vote was passed on the Santo Domingo Consensus, a set of 10 policy objectives designed to promote a more competitive and prosperous region. Taking into account the need to foster growth and competitiveness amidst an environment of international economic uncertainty, the objectives of the Santo Domingo Consensus call for, among other goals, investment in education and human capital; improvements in infrastructure and the business environment; increased access to capital; and the promotion of trade.

CIFAL Atlanta was also delighted to host the fifth edition of the Americas Award at Puerto San Souci in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on October 6, 2011. Awards were presented to distinguished public officials of the region honoring the tangible progress towards the achievement of United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Awards were given to those individuals that displayed high quality Best Practices, maintaining the highest ethical standards, in each of the nine categories. Americas Award laureates include the President of the Dominican Republic, His Excellency Dr. Leonel Fernandez and Her Excellency Dr. Vanda Pignato, First Lady of El Salvador and Presidential Secretary of Social Inclusion. For a full list of Americas Award winners, please visit our website.

The next and sixth edition of the Americas Competitiveness Forum will be held in Cali, Colombia, October 25-27, 2012.

 

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