U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin co-hosted the second annual Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF), which was held on August 17-19, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Forum provided an opportunity for governments, the business community, and representatives from academia and non-governmental organizations to discuss actions that can be taken to improve competitiveness and economic prosperity in the Americas.

ACF 2008 was attended by more than 900 participants representing 26 of the 34 democratically elected governments in the Western Hemisphere. Among the key government participants were Presidents Colom of Guatemala, Saca of El Salvador, and Uribe of Colombia, Vice President Morales of Nicaragua, and over 50 foreign government officials.

ACF 2008 exceeded expectations for facilitating a dynamic, honest, and constructive dialogue among Western Hemisphere leaders on improving the region’s competitiveness. The 2009 ACF will be held in Santiago, Chile, and will build upon the success of this Forum.

“The future of competitiveness in the Americas depends upon a shared commitment to openness and democracy embodied by our dialogue in Atlanta. This ongoing discussion brings key public- and private-sector leaders together to discuss ways to improve our competitiveness in the global marketplace.” –U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez.

For more information visit International Trade Administration website or contact Rossana Lobo.