Deputy Secretary of State William Burns will travel to Cali, Colombia, October 23 for the fifth Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas ministerial. The government of Colombia will host the event, attended by high-level government officials, policy makers, business leaders, academics, and representatives from international organizations throughout the Americas, who will share best practices to promote inclusive economic growth and prosperity in the hemisphere. During his visit to Colombia, Deputy Secretary Burns will be accompanied by Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S. Jacobson.
Pathways to Prosperity partners include fifteen Western Hemisphere countries committed to democracy and open markets. Current participating countries include Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and the United States. The Inter-American Development Bank, the Organization of American States, and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean are strategic Pathways partners.
Assistant Secretary Jacobson will continue her stay in Cali to participate in the Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF). Department of Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sanchez will lead the U.S. delegation to the ACF, which provides a platform for dialogue to strengthening competitiveness and highlight investment opportunities in the Americas. The Assistant Secretary will also discuss themes of social inclusion with Colombian government officials on the Action Plan to Promote Racial and Ethnic Equality.
