Michigan State University Extension
Extenstion International Trade Res. - 07089502
03/31/96
The Hemispheric Trade and Commerce Forum will be a series of interactive sessions between private sector and government representatives from throughout the hemisphere. The forum will focus on the core aspects of commercial integration in the wake of the Summit of the Americas' mandate to create a "Free Trade Area of the Americas" by 2005.
The program is designed to foster dialogue between the private and public sectors regarding areas the private sector believes could facilitate progress toward a hemisphere-wide free trade area. Forum sessions will be led by government officials and private sector representatives. Forum discussions will result in recommendations from the private sector that will eventually be presented to governments for their review after the Forum.
Friday, June 30, 1995 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.: Forum Registration and Credentialing Location: Colorado Convention Center Early registration: noon to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 29. Credentials are necessary to attend all Forum activities. 6:00 p.m.: Opening Reception and Activities Location: To be Determined. Saturday, July 1, 1995 7:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.: Breakfast/Opening Address Location: Colorado Convention Center
"The Spirit of Miami: Building the Bridges of Commercial Integration"
Themes: the role of the private sector in economic integration and the importance of infrastructure to that process. Commission the Forum to produce private sector recommendations on means for streamlining daily business transactions as a contribution toward hemispheric commercial integration. 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Sectoral Workshops Location: Colorado Convention Center
Panelists will include chief executives of the hemisphere's leading companies, government officials and experts. Discussions will focus on commercial integration issues from a sectoral perspective, trade and investment barriers, related regulatory issues, and major projects in the region. On the second day (Sunday, July 1),sectoral workshops will prepare and approve private sector recommendations, which will be presented at the closing plenary session.
"Building the Foundation of a Hemispheric Information Infrastructure"
Focus on the growing hemispheric telecommunications and information technologies market, and on advancing hemispheric economic integration through the creation of a hemispheric information infrastructure by implementing needed policy and regulatory measures.
"Meeting the Energy Needs of the Americas"
Panelists will discuss business opportunities in the energy sector in the Americas, especially the importance of access to energy as a fundamental aspect of integration and the opportunities of access to energy as a fundamental aspect of integration and the opportunities for regional cooperation. The discussion will focus on various factors, which will affect the energy market: privatization, financing and environmental concerns.
"Transportation: Moving the Hemisphere Together"
Panelists will discuss how transportation services can be improved. Emphasis will be on developing multi-cultural policy approaches to transportation problems, eliminating barriers to free and open competition, reducing the regulation of international transportation, integrating transportation services firms across borders, and investing in and building transportation infrastructure.
"Agribusiness in the Free Trade Area of the Americas"
Panelists, drawn from a cross-section of industry and government, will discuss the benefits of greater hemispheric integration and the policy and regulatory challenges that must be overcome.
"Tourism: Expanding Commercial Horizons" Participants will identify and discuss possible impediments to expanding travel and tourism-related business trade and investment, and the opportunities in this sector for Hemispheric commercial integration.
"Improving the Hemisphere's Health through Open Markets"
Panelists will assess the changing health care systems and discuss the strategic alliances among governments, universities, and hospitals within the region. The discussion also will focus on ways to liberalize barriers to trade and create market opportunities for health technologies and services.
"Environment and the Economics of Integration"
Free trade and increased economic integration are key factors for sustainable development. At the Summit of Americas, a commitment was struck to make environmental and trade policies mutually supportive throughout the process of economic integration. Heads of state at the Summit further committed to emphasizing pollution prevention and the promotion of public participation. This workshop seeks views on how to implement these commitments.
"A Shared Future: Democracy, Sustainable Development and Market Unification"
Themes: Hemispheric commercial liberalization as an important facet for advancing the Summit of Americas' Declaration of Principles: Democracy, Free Trade, Eradication of Poverty and Discrimination and Sustainable Development.
Panelists will focus on commercial integration issues from a functional, cross-cut perspective: regulatory standards and legal issues that affect all sectors and which can facilitate or impede integration.
"Hemispheric Commerce: Setting the Standards of Integration"
Transparent and accessible systems for standards and conformity assessment are critical for market access in the hemisphere. The Panel will explore prospects and means to harmonize standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment systems in the Americas.
"Enhancing Integration through Legal Systems"
Modern legal systems and effective means for settling commercial disputes are essential to an integrated commercial system and the facilitation of trade and investment in the hemisphere. Panels will look at ways to address differences in legal systems in order to promote commercial integration and reduce potential for corruption in the region.
"Small and Medium-size Businesses in a Hemispheric Marketplace"
Panelists will discuss the importance of small and medium size enterprises (SME's) to the process of job creation and hemispheric integration. Discussion will examine impediments to conducting business for SMEs and will identify potential solutions that could be implemented through the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
"Toward a Hemispheric Information Marketplace"
The Summit of the Americas affirmed that a country's information infrastructure is essential to political, economic, social and cultural development. This panel will discuss issues critical to companies that will provide the entertainment, educational, and information products that help integrate the Hemisphere and that will be part of the Hemispheric marketplace. Discussion will focus on how protecting intellectual property and assuring open access to information networks will contribute to creating a Hemispheric marketplace.
"Private Sector Financing: Infrastructure and Privatization"
Recognizing that physical infrastructure development is critical to greater commerical integration, panelists will focus on ways to finance Hemispheric infrastructure projects, and the privatization of state-owned infrastructure enterprises. A two-part discussion will emphasize the need for private financing as a vehicle for relieving governments' burden for infrastructure funding and the role of governments in accelerating the shift from public to private sponsorship and risk bearing.
"Preparing Our Work force for the Age of Commercial Integration and Hemispheric Free Trade"
Focus on workplace issues such as labor-management cooperation, worker skills and labor standards to develop a more productive work force and ensure that the benefits of economic integration are widely disseminated.