WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) in Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA) welcomed U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, and the leaders of the 22 American Chambers of Commerce for our annual “Forecast on Latin America and the Caribbean" (FOLAC) conference.
In his keynote address, Deputy Secretary of State Landau emphasized the Trump Administration’s support for Latin America, saying, “Latin America is at the very center of our world. That is true for President Trump, that is true for Secretary Rubio, and that is true for me. And our vision for Latin America is a vision of private sector driven economic growth. There is no more dynamic engine of progress and innovation and creativity in the world in history than the U.S. private sector.” He continued, “What we have to do is unleash the U.S. private sector in Latin America and around the world. [...] I am so happy to reaffirm the strong commitment of the Trump Administration to the role of commercial diplomacy as a pillar of the United States foreign policy, to reaffirm United States foreign policy, and to reaffirm the centrality of the Western Hemisphere in our diplomacy.”
Via virtual remarks, President Abinader further acknowledged the importance of the private sector to the region, saying, “In a hemisphere facing complex challenges and political differences, a vibrant private sector is more important than ever to the prosperity and unity of the Americas. [Together] we can build a future where every person in the Americas can live with opportunity, hope and mutual respect.”
“Amid growing global economic uncertainty, deepening trade and investment between the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean is more important than ever to accelerating growth in our Hemisphere,” said U.S. Chamber senior vice president for the Americas Neil Herrington. “Today’s discussions underscore how countries should utilize private sector innovation and advance practical reforms, which will lead to increased competitiveness and greater opportunities for our region’s businesses and citizens alike.”
Occurring annually, FOLAC convenes public and private sector leaders to explore priorities for regional economic integration in Latin America and the Caribbean, with this year’s discussions focusing on U.S. policy priorities in the region; trade facilitation; private sector investment; artificial intelligence; and agricultural trade. For more information about the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA), visit here.
