CCAA 27th Miami Conference on the Caribean Basin

Strenghtening the third border

December 8-10, 2003 Loews Miami Beach Hotel, FL

SUNDAY December 7, 2003    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Poinciana 4.
INTERNATIONAL APPAREL FEDERATION (IAF) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING (private)
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Location: Hotel Entrance.
CCAA & IAF BOARD DINNER CRUISE (by invitation only). Buses will be departing at 6:30 p.m. promptly
 
MONDAY December 8, 2003    
9:00 am - 7:30 pm
Location: Rotunda East Ballroom
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
 
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Crown Conch
CCAA AGRIBUSINESS BUSINESS TEAM MEETINGS
 
9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Location: Poinciana 4
IAF COUNCIL MEETING (private)
 
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Neptune
CARIBBEAN STOCK EXCHANGES MEETING (private)
 
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Triton
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE CHACONIA INCOME & GROWTH FUND, INC (private)
 
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Poinciana 2
CCAA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING (private)
 
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Poinciana 3
MARAD & FLORIDA PORTS COUNCIL MEETING (private)

 
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Poinciana 1
CCAA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING (private)

 
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Americana Salon 1 & 2
OPENING RECEPTION

MIAMI –CROSSROADS FOR THE CARIBBEAN BASIN
Master of Ceremonies: James Jacobsen, Vice Chairman, The Kellwood Company & Chairman, CCAA
Ribbon Cutting: Manuel Diaz, Mayor of the City of Miami (I)
Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Commissioner, Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners
Special Recognition: International Apparel Federation (IAF)
Changing of the Guard
RECEPTION HOSTED BY PORT OF MIAMI, MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLORIDA FTAA, ENTERPRISE FLORIDA, FLOR DE CAÑA AND CONFERENCE SILVER SPONSORS
 
TUESDAY December 9, 2003    
7:30 am - 7:30 pm
Location: Rotunda East Ballroom
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
 
8:30 am - 9:30 am
Location: Americana Salon 3
OPENING PLENARY
THE THIRD BORDER’S PERSPECTIVE
Introduction: James Jacobsen, Vice Chairman, The Kellwood Company & Chairman, CCAA
Moderator: James Fendell, President, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA)
Keynote Speakers:
Miguel Lacayo, Minister of Economy, El Salvador
Norman García, Minister Industry & Commerce, Honduras
Mario Arana, Minister of Industry, Development & Commerce, Nicaragua
Sonia Guzmán de Hernández, Secretary of State—Industry & Commerce, Dominican Republic (I)
Joaquín Jácome, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Panama (I)
 
9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Location: Americana Salon 1 & 2
EXHIBIT HALL
 
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Location: Americana Salon 3
OPENING PLENARY
THE UNITED STATES’ PERSPECTIVE
Introduction: Jose Perez-Jones, Senior Vice President, Seaboard Marine & President, CCAA
Moderator: John Murphy, Vice President for Western Hemisphere Affairs, US Chamber of Commerce
Keynote Speakers:
Grant Aldonas, Undersecretary for International Trade
US Department of Commerce
Elsa Murano, Undersecretary for Food Safety
US Department of Agriculture
Ross Wilson, Chief Negotiator FTAA,
US Trade Representative
 
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Location: Americana Salon 1 & 2
COFFEE BREAK—EXHIBIT HALL
HOSTED BY ANACAFE (GUATEMALA COFFEE GROWERS ASSOCIATION) AND CONFERENCE BRONZE SPONSORS
 
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Location: Sunrise Tellin
WRAP/IAG MEETING (private)
 
10:30 am - 12:00 noon CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
“TRANSFORMATION AGENDA”
The continued economic and political stability of the region requires attracting significant additional foreign investment to finance economic development, as more traditional sources, such as domestic savings, government aid, multilateral assistance and bank lending, are no longer sufficient. CCAA believes that the private sector must take the lead in driving forward the Transformation Agenda – Capacity Building, Integration, Harmonization and Governance—necessary to overcome the major barriers—lack of skills, small scale, bureaucracy, & corruption) to increased investment flows. The purpose of these sessions is to bring together the public and the private sector in a constructive dialogue and obtain their unqualified commitment for the timely implementation and execution of the required public policy changes.
 
10:30 am - 12:00 noon Location: Poinciana 1
CAPACITY BUILDING: THE INVESTMENT IN NEEDED SKILL SETS
Moderator: Mosina Jordan, Senior Advisor for Private Sector Initiatives, US Agency for International Development
Discussants: Arthur Gray, Regional Economic Advisor, ECLAC; Len Ishmael, Director General, OECS (I); David O’Brien, President, Trinidad & Tobago Chamber of Commerce; Julieta Valls, President, FAVACA.
 
10:30 am - 12:00 noon Location: Poinciana 2
HARMONIZATION: COMMON STANDARDS FOR TRADE & INVESTMENT
Moderator: Richard Bernal, Director General, Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM)
Discussants: Byron Blake, Assistant Secretary General, Caricom; Alfredo Fernandez-Sivori, Public Affairs Manager, Caribbean & Central America, ExxonMobil; William Malamud, EVP, AMCHAM DR (I); Dale Marshall, Minister of International Business, Barbados; James Moss-Solomon, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Grace Kennedy & Co. Ltd.
 
10:30 am - 12:00 noon Location: Poinciana 3
INTEGRATION: THE CREATION OF LARGER MARKETS
Moderator: Claudia Rodriguez, Director, Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)
Discussants: John Barham, Editor, Latin Finance; Auguste Rimpel, Senior Partner, Boston Global Partners; Haroldo Rodas Melgar, Secretary General, SIECA (I); Vince Yearwood, CEO, BIDC (Barbados)
 
10:30 am - 12:00 noon Location: Poinciana 4
GOVERNANCE: IMPARTIAL APPLICATION OF THE “RULE OF LAW”
Moderator: Dennis Flannery, Executive Vice President – Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Discussants: Alvaro Casserly, CEO, Interconnect Ltd; Ernesto Grijalva, SVP Legal Affairs-Latin America-Caribbean, PriceSmart; Luis Pellerano, Partner, Pellerano & Herrera; Robert Riley, Chairman & CEO, BP Trinidad & Tobago
 
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm Location: Americana Salon 4
PLENARY LUNCH
Master of Ceremonies: Ana Guevara, Vice President – Latin America, UPS & Trustee, CCAA
Welcome: Claudia Rodriguez, Director, Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)
Keynote Speaker:
Francisco Flores, President of El Salvador
Introduction: Francisco Escobar, CEO, Grupo Fresco & Vice President – Central America, CCAA
Cesar Gaviria, Secretary General, Organization of American States (I)
LUNCHEON HOSTED BY CENTRAL AMERICAN BANK FOR ECONOMIC INTEGRATION (CABEI) AND CONFERENCE PLATINUM & GOLD SPONSORS
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm CONCURRENT ROUNDTABLES “INDUSTRY SECTORS”  
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Sunrise Tellin
AGRIBUSINESS: ANTI-BIOTERRORISM MEASURES & TRADE
Concerns exist that new United States security and anti-terrorism actions and policies cannot be reconciled with an increase in agribusiness trade. What must be done for companies trading agricultural products to adjust for the new anti bio-terrorism measures? What are the best ways of enacting these measures so as to not stifle trade?
Moderator: Mari Stull, Director of Int. Regulatory Policy, Grocery Manufacturers of America
Discussants: Miguel Garcia Winder, Director Comercio y Agronegocios, IICA; Peter Quinter, Partner, Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.; Linda Swacina, Deputy Administrator, Food & Safety Inspection Service;
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Poinciana 1
A) APPAREL: INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATIONS -THE PATH TO RAISE GLOBALWORKING STANDARDS
Moderator: Steve Jesseph, Vice President, Compliance & Risk Management, Sara Lee Branded Apparel
B) Apparel: BEYOND 2005: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Panelists will discuss the vision customers and vendors around the world have as to the effect of the elimination of quotas in 2005 on future sourcing plans.
Moderator: Mike Todaro, Managing Director, AAPN
Discussants: Roberto Bequillard, CEO, Argus Group; Tom Travis, Partner, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Neptune
ENERGY: CAFTA, CBI ENERGY INTEGRATION & THE FTAA
Regional and hemispheric free trade negotiations can be a driver of services integration in the Caribbean Basin, including energy. This session reviews the implications for energy integration posed by CAFTA and considers the ramifications of wider Caribbean Basin market integration. The benefits and risks to business will be identified, and private sector responses to the free trade of energy will be presented. Special attention will be given to the power generation market for petroleum and natural gas. How can free trade negotiations address energy concerns in the absence of energy-specific negotiating groups?
Moderator: Vincent Devito, Senior Policy Advisor for North
American Affairs, US DOE
Discussants: Harrylall, Manager, Supply & Trading, Chevron Texaco Eastern Caribbean Ltd.; Matt McManus, Division Chief, Energy Producer Country Affairs, US. Department of State; Brian Petty, Senior Vice-President, International Association of Drilling Contractors/ Co-Chair, Energy Services Coalition; Juan Ignacio Vasquez, Country Chairman/CA External Affairs Manager, Shell Company Limited.
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Poinciana 2
FINANCIAL SERVICES: REMITTANCES: SECURITY, COST & ACCESS
Remittances are becoming a large source for liquidity in Third Border countries. What is the best way to lower transaction costs and ensure more remittance money goes to the region? Is it possible to allow for more bank entry into the industry given security requirements and regulations? Can the issue of identification of illegal immigrants be addressed so as to allow them access to bank accounts? Is there a way to better direct the money from remittances into the financial system to assist in development?
Moderator: Patricia Hamilton, CEO, CAIB
Discussants: Dale Crowell, Remittances Outreach Coordinator, PADF; Paul Dwyer, CEO, Viamericas Corporation; Katherine Johnson, Associate Managing Director, Kroll Inc.; Kai Schmitz, Executive Vice President & COO, MicroFinance Int. Corporation
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm

Location: Poinciana 3
TELECOM/IT: REGION’S ROLE IN GLOBAL POLICY MAKING BODIES
What is the role of Caribbean Basin countries in policy-making bodies such as the Inter-American Commission for Telecommunications (CITEL) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Is the region appropriately represented? What is the status of the updating of the CITEL-ITU Blue Book initiative? Leading regional policy makers will examine the region’s regulatory and legal approach to establishing a common Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy as it faces up to the challenges of connectivity, universal access and the bridging of the digital divide.
Moderators: Selby Wilson, Secretary General, CANTO & Linda Wellstein, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
Discussants: James Corbin, VP Sales and E-Business, Cable & Wireless Barbados; Philip Cross, Caribbean Regional Rep., ITU Barbados; Eric Fishman, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP; Godofredo Méndez, Blue Book Revision, CITEL; Graciela Piedras, Inter-American Telecom. Commission (CITEL); Kathia Quiros Sanchez, Regional Director for Caribbean and Central America, Microsoft Corp.; Frank Rodriguez, Senior Director, Public Sector, Vertical Latin American & Caribbean, Oracle Corp.; Gil Simoes, Manager of Business Dev., Caribbean & Latin America, Nortel Networks

 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Poinciana 4
TOURISM: INTEGRATED REGIONAL TOURISM—PAST AND FUTURE
Current Central American plans to develop a regional tourism product mirror past and present strategic plans for the Caribbean. How can Central America benefit from the experience of the Caribbean? Regional branding efforts currently under consideration in Central America, track the “One Caribbean” marketing of that region. In both regions, there are trends towards a harmonized Visa policy. This session will address the Central American Strategic Plan for tourism in the context of the Caribbean, examining tourism as a “cluster” of commercial activities, with the product, for example eco-tourism, differing according to the context including branding and institutional requirements.
Moderator: Lincoln Marshall, Assoc. Professor, GWU
Discussants: Robert Chasnow, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP; Lucia Salazar, Minister of Tourism/ Executive President, Nicaraguan Institute for Tourism; Alex Titcombe, Director of Product Development & Operations, Caribbean Hotels Association; Christine Walwyn, CEO, St. Kitts Tourism Authority.
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Triton
TRANSPORTATION: PORT SECURITY - MTSA & ISPS REGULATIONS
On November 25, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), meant to protect the US’s maritime community from terrorism, without affecting the flow of goods through ports. In December 2002, the International Maritime Organization adopted the International Maritime Security and Port Facility Code (ISPS), which requires ships on international voyages and the port facilities that serve them to take appropriate measures against security incidents. These initiatives will enters into force on July 1st, 2004. Discussants will provide background on the ship, shipping company, and seaport security requirements to be implemented and the consequences of being non compliant on July 1, 2004.
Moderators: Capt. James Watson, Captain of the Port, USCG Marine Safety Office & Raymond Barberesi, Director, Ports and Domestic Shipping, US Maritime Administration
Discussants: Michael Crye, President, International Council of Cruise Lines; Rick Murrell, President, Tropical Shipping; Jose Ramirez, Director, Customs/Border Protection, Port of Miami; Carlos Valdez, President, Trade & Transport Council.
 
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Location: Americana Salon 3
PLENARY SESSION
“INDUSTRY SECTOR” ROUNDTABLES – MODERATORS’ PANEL
Moderator: Gabriel Pascual, President, CENTRAL AMERICA-US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ADVISORY TRUSTEE, CCAA
 
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Location: Poinciana 2
COLLATERAL EVENT
COUNTRY PRESENTATION: NICARAGUA
HOSTED BY PRONICARAGUA
 
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Location: Poinciana 1
COLLATERAL EVENT
COUNTRY PRESENTATION: TAIWAN
HOSTED BY REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN
 
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Location: Americana Salon 1& 2
NETWORKING RECEPTION
RECEPTION HOSTED BY FLOR DE CAÑA AND CONFERENCE SILVER SPONSORS
 
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Location: Americana Salon 4
PLENARY DINNER
Master of Ceremonies: Carlos Perez, Senior Vice President – Latin America & Caribbean, Wachovia Bank & Trustee, CCAA
Welcome: Jorge Arrizurieta, Chief Operating Officer, Florida FTAA
Keynote Speakers:
Enrique Bolaños Geyer, President of Nicaragua
Introduction: Ernesto Fernandez-Holmann, CEO, Grupo Uno & Trustee, CCAA
Special Award: CENTRAL AMERICA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 2003 PRESENTED TO PRESIDENT ENRIQUE BOLAÑOS GEYER BY THE CENTRAL AMERICA-US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
DINNER HOSTED BY GRUPO UNO, CENTRAL AMERICA-US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CONFERENCE PLATINUM & GOLD SPONSORS
 
WEDNESDAY December 10, 2003    
7:30 am - 7:30 pm Location: Rotunda East Ballroom
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
 
7:30 am - 8:30 pm Location: Crown Conch
CCAA ENERGY BUSINESS TEAM MEETING
 
8:30 am - 9:30 am Location: Americana Ballroom Salon 3
CLOSING PLENARY
THE THIRD BORDER’S PERSPECTIVE

Introduction: Neil Prior, Chairman, Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) & Trustee, CCAA
Moderator: Rolph Balgobin, Exec. Director, Institute of Business, University of West Indies and Advisory Trustee, CCAA
Keynote Speakers:
Perry Christie, Prime Minister of the Bahamas
Ken Valley, Minister of Trade, Trinidad & Tobago
Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jamaica
 
9:00 am - 3:00 pm Location: Americana Salon 1 & 2
EXHIBIT HALL
 
9:30 am - 10:30 am Location: Americana Ballroom Salon 3
CLOSING PLENARY
THE UNITED STATES’ PERSPECTIVE
Introduction: Kathleen Donawa, Regional Manager, Public & Government Affairs - Caribbean, ChevronTexaco & Vice President - Caribbean, CCAA
Moderator: Antonio Villamil, Chairman, Governor of Florida’s Council of Economic Advisors
Keynote Speakers:
Asa Hutchinson, Undersecretary for Borders & Transportation, US Department of Homeland Security
Donna M. Christensen, Delegate, Virgin Islands, US House of Representatives
 
10:30 am - 11:00 am Location: Americana Salon 1 & 2
COFFEE BREAK—EXHIBIT HALL
HOSTED BY ANACAFE (GUATEMALA COFFEE GROWERS ASSOCIATION) AND CONFERENCE BRONZE SPONSORS
 
10:30 am – 12:00 noon CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
“PUBLIC POLICY”
 
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Location: Poinciana 1
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: WTC MIAMI & THE CARIBBEAN ACTION COMMITTEE INITIATIVES
Moderators: Manuel Mencia, SVP, Enterprise FLORIDA & Miguel Southwell, Director-Business Development, Miami International Airport
The World Trade Center Miami will convene a meeting of its Caribbean Action Group to identify initiatives and actions that organizations and private sector companies in the Caribbean and Florida could participate in to increase two-way international trade and strengthen social and economic ties. Among the projects to be discussed: strategies to assist Caribbean companies to export their products to Florida, identification of new venture capital sources, initiation of airport and seaport security training programs; development of a unified database that matches producers and distributors in the Caribbean with potential buyers in the US, participation in high growth trade shows, etc.
 
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Location: Poinciana 2
ENVIRONMENT: DEFINING CORPORATE STEWARDSHIP AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Poverty alleviation and environmental protection are compatible goals in which the private sector has a role. Economic development can be an engine that serves environmental conservation by reducing poverty-driven exploitation of natural resources. For development to be truly broad-based and sustainable, however, the expectations of the private sector need clear definition. What guidelines and best practices exist for
a realistic stewardship and responsibility for different industries? Is there an appropriate level of regulation that will ensure a larger public agenda?
Moderator: Glenn Prickett, Executive Director, Center for Environmental Leadership in Business, Conservation International
Discussants: Michael Crye, President, International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL); Elaine Denning, International Affairs Specialist, NOAA; Amy Edwards, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP; Virginia Green, Vice-President, Investment Policy, OPIC; Joseph Matalon, Chairman, Jamaica Promotions Corporation; Kelly Robinson, Corporate Director, Environmental & Social Affairs, Grupo Punta Cana (I)
 
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Location: Crown Conch
GEO-POLITICS: CUBA- TRANSITION OR SUCCESSION
Presented by: Manuel Rocha, Senior Counsel for Int. Trade & Government Affairs, Steel, Hector & Davis LLP.
 
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Location: Triton
HEALTH: CRISIS IN THE CARIBBEAN BASIN: PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS IN COMBATING THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC.
The global pandemic that is HIV/AIDS is spreading in the Caribbean Basin region. The Caribbean region is reported to be second only to Sub-Saharan Africa in the percentage of infected adults. HIV/AIDS is more than a health crisis and it has wide-reaching implications for the development of the entire Caribbean Basin region. At a time when the stability of the Third Border is critical, the social and economic fabric of the Caribbean is at great risk as this catastrophe threatens the prosperity, stability and productivity of the Caribbean people. Experts from the public and private sectors will discuss the spread of the disease with specific emphasis on private sector initiatives & public-private partnerships to combat the crisis in the Caribbean Basin.
Moderators: Carissa Etienne, Assistant Director, PAHO & John Agwunobi, Secretary of Health, State of Florida.
Discussants: Kenneth Bleakley, President & CEO, FONEMED; Bill Conn, Associate Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, The Institute for HIV/AIDS, Family Health International (FHI); Kathleen Donawa, Regional Manager, Public & Government Affairs - Caribbean, ChevronTexaco & Vice President - Caribbean, CCAA; Sabine Durier, Principal Strategy Officer, Program Leader, “IFC Fight Against AIDS”, IFC; Adolfo Franco, Administrator for Western Hemisphere, USAID; Ramon E. Riancho, Regional Director, Legal and External Affairs Department, MSD Caribbean, Merck Corporation; Mario Vulinovich, Country Chairman, Jamaica, The Shell Company WI Ltd.
 
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Location: Periwinkle
LINKING TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC SECTORS: AGRICULTURE & TOURISM - FEEDING OUR TOURISTS
With the region’s size decreasing the relative trade importance in Agriculture, what can the small markets of the region do to transform their agriculture toward internal use? Can the agriculture and tourism sectors team up to create more linkages between the domestic-use agriculture sector and the tourism industry? What shifts in export policy, training, crops and relationships are required to make this a possibility?
Moderator: Chelston Brathwaite, Director General, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
Discussants: Byron Blake, Assistant Secretary General, Caricom; Peter Johnson, President, Guanaja Reef Club; Christine Walwyn, CEO, St. Kitts Tourism Authority.
 
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Location: Neptune
NON-INDEPENDENT TERRITORIES: OVERSEAS TERRITORIES IN THE ERA OF GLOBALIZATION & HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION
The goal of the Free Trade Area of the Americas is to have a common market by eliminating barriers to trade and investment in the America. With the independent States of the hemisphere proceeding with negotiations on the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and as the integration process accelerates in Europe, the overseas countries and territories (OCTs) must determine their future in a global economy where regional integration mechanisms threaten to exclude them. This Session will address integration of the OCT economies into the hemispheric integration process.
Moderator: Carlyle Corbin, Office of the Governor, US Virgin Islands
Discussants: C. Walton Brown, President, Research Innovations Ltd, Bremuda; Conrad Higgs, Manager, Turks and Caicos Islands Investment Agency; K.H. Randolph Horton J.P, M.P., Minister of Labour, Home Affairs, and Discussant - Public Safety, Bermuda Gov.; Jean-Ives Lacascade, French West Indies Representative; Vargrave Richards, Lieutenant Governor, US Virgin Islands.
 
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Location: Poinciana 3
SECURITY & CUSTOMS: PROTECTING THE THIRD BORDER—THE TRADE-OFF BETWEEN SAFETY AND COMMERCE
Moderator: Douglas Browning, Deputy Commissioner of Customs & Border Protection
Discussants: Anthony Bryan, Director, Caribbean Border Security Project, Univ. of Miami; Ron Oleynik, Partners, Holland & Knight, LLP (I); Kim Peterson, President, SeaSecure; Francisco Santeiro, Managing Director, Latin America & Caribbean Division.
 
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Location: Poinciana 4
TRANSPARENCY: THE PRIVATE SECTOR’S FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
Moderator: Enrique Arturo de Obarrio, Vice President, Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE) & President of its Ethics & Civic Affairs Commission
Discussants: Walter Bastian, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere, U.S. Department of Commerce; Miguel Garcia Gosalvez, Director of the Information Systems Division of Casals & Associates, Inc.; Phil Nichols, Associate Professor of Legal Studies, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
 
12:00 noon – 2:00 pm Location: Americana Salon 4
PLENARY LUNCH
FLORIDA & THE CARIBBEAN BASIN - PARTNERS FOR GROWTH

Master of Ceremonies: Jose Perez-Jones, Senior Vice President, Seaboard Marine & President, CCAA
Welcome: Dennis Flannery, Executive Vice President – Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Keynote Speakers: Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida
Introduction: Richard D. Fain, CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Andrew Natsios, Administrator, US Agency for International Development (USAID)
Introduction: Darrel Kelley, CEO, Enterprise FLORIDA
LUNCHEON HOSTED BY INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (IADB) AND CONFERENCE PLATINUM & GOLD SPONSORS
 
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm CONCURRENT ROUNDTABLES
“INDUSTRY SECTORS”
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Poinciana 1
APPAREL: GLOBAL BUSINESS STRATEGIES
There has been a lot of discussion about 2005 and what will happen after quotas have been lifted and what Caribbean Basin countries need to do to prepare. Discussants in this session will talk about real plans and strategies that are already being formulated and will be executed in various parts of the world. They will discuss what Europe, Asia and the United States believe will be the relative importance of cost to lead time and their expectations of suppliers to the U.S. market. They will also discuss directions that are being taken with respect to brand development, growth of the business, channels of distribution, factory compliance, mass customization, etc. The audience is encouraged to prepare questions and participate in this discussion.
Moderator: Mike Fralix, President & CEO, [TC]2
Discussants: Bill Bass, Lands End/Sears (U.S); David Birnbaum, Third Horizon Limited, (Italy) (I); Alejandro Faes, Lectra in Mexico (I); Raul Garcia Tapia, General Director, Camara Nacional de la Industria del Vestido; Justin Huang, the Taiwan Textile Federation (Taipei); Umut Oran, President of IAF, TCMA, and Euratex Clothing Group (Turkey).
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Triton
ENERGY: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES - IMPROVING COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH DIVERSIFICATION
The Caribbean Basin as a whole is energy-import dependent, subjecting the region to high prices, volatility, and foreign exchange loss. This session assesses the benefits of diversification for small economies and examines the Basin’s competitiveness as an energy supplier, to the US & Florida especially. Natural gas and grid-tied renewables will be discussed as practical supplements to traditional power generation. What are the opportunities for a more balanced energy supply configuration, with returns in terms of energy security, price predictability, and overall economic development?
Moderator: Ali Ebadian, Director, CETA, Florida Int. University.
Discussants: Patricia Alleyne, Managing Director, Barbados National Terminal Company; Roland Clarke, Project Manager, Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Program, CARICOM; Anthony Hylton, Special Envoy for Trade, Jamaica; Mark Lambrides, Senior Energy Specialist, OAS; Robert Riley, Chairman, BP Trinidad & Tobago; Teofilo de la Torre, Project Manager, SIEPAC.
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Poinciana 2
FINANCIAL SERVICES: OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO CAPITAL FORMATION - CREATING A SINGLE CAPITAL MARKET
The USA Patriot Act and related regulations have slowed foreign investment to and capital formation in the Third Border. What are the principal barriers to capital formation in the region? What must be done to lower the barriers to foreign investment flows? Can security and anti-money laundering concerns and laws be reconciled with an increase in capital formation? Will harmonization make the region more attractive for investors?
Moderator: Yolanda Suarez, Chief of Staff, Stanford Int’l Group
Discussants: Adolfo Arguello, General Manager, Grupo Uno; Rolph Balgobin, Executive Director, UWI-IOB; Robert Sherretta, President, International Investor Jose Sirven, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP; Baljit Vohra, General Manager, Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange; Roberto Zamora, President, LAFISE
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Crown Conch
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: IP ISSUES IN THE CARIBBEAN BASIN
Given the impending bi-lateral and multi-lateral free trading agreements, intellectual property laws have taken on a new significance in the Caribbean Basin. What measures for enforcement actions to fight piracy and counterfeiting, both in-country and at borders, have been undertaken? Is the harmonization of IP laws within the Caribbean and Central America respectively feasible? And, in terms implementation of TRIPS (Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), how far have countries come along in incorporating the highest level of IPR standards?
Moderator: Rosanna Cooper, Managing Partner, RT Cooper
Discussants: Michael J. Buchenhorner, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP; Diane Daley, Intellectual Property Partner, Foga, Daley & Co.; Allison Demas, Chief Executive Officer, Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT); Peter N. Fowler, Senior Counsel, Office of Enforcement, External Affairs, United States Patent and Trade Mark Office; Cordell Green, Executive Director, Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica; Juan Carlos Guzman, Senior Attorney, LATAM, Microsoft
 
2:00 pm - 4:30pm Location: Poinciana 3
TELECOMMUNICATIONS/IT: GROWTH & INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Over the last year, liberalization has brought about greater competition and increased investment in telecommunications and IT in the Caribbean Basin, particularly in the mobile telephony and internet