U.S. Chamber Applauds Initiative to Create High-Level Private Sector Dialogue Across the Americas

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA–The U.S. Chamber of Commerce welcomed today an initiative to create a regional framework for a high-level private sector dialogue for the Americas at the Inter-American Development Bank's (IADB) Annual Meeting in Panama City, Panama.  Jodi Bond, vice president for the Americas at the U.S. Chamber, led a senior delegation of U.S. Chamber member companies to participate in a roundtable discussion with senior business and thought leaders from across the Western Hemisphere, where the initiative was proposed.

“Other regions of the world, Asia in particular, are far ahead of ours in organizing their private sectors to provide meaningful input into the economic decision making processes of their governments,” said Bond.  “Accordingly, we are working with the IDB and other organizations within the inter-American system, along with their member governments, to create a more vigorous and enduring process of multilateral engagement in the region that includes private sector representation.”

Joined by government officials and private sector leaders from throughout the region, the U.S. Chamber is supporting the initiative with a view towards the creation of a sustained high-level dialogue and coordination mechanism for business leaders from the entire region to advance a common social and economic development agenda.

Bond added, “Without private sector input, government officials are left to make educated guesses about the priorities of industry.  If they guess wrong, business has no one to blame but itself.  This process provides a vehicle for business to help inform policymakers on a host of issues, such as shared infrastructure in transportation, energy, and financial services; best practices in customs modernization, regulatory coherence and transparency, innovation, and the rule of law; education and workforce development; and corporate social responsibility and sustainability practices.”

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with the IDB, its member governments, and Chamber counterparts throughout the hemisphere to advance this important initiative.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.