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March
19, 2003
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PARTICIPANTS
BEGIN ARRIVING FOR IDB
ANNUAL MEETING IN MILAN
Event
goes forward despite unsettled international situation
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| (Left-Right)
Roberto Formigoni, President of the region of
Lombardy, Enrique V. Iglesias, President of the
IDB and Luigi Roth, President of the Fiera Milano,
moments after touring the IDB instalations at
the Fiera. (Photo by Diego Tortini) |
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MILAN,
Italy-Participants began registering today for the 44th
Annual Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the Inter-American
Development Bank and the 18th Annual Meeting of the
Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC).
Although an unsettled international situation is expected
to reduce attendance, originally estimated at 4,000,
lines began forming early this morning at the Gattamelata
gate of the Fiera Milano, an enormous conference center
that also hosts some of the world's most prestigious
design and fashion expositions.
Among the first-day arrivals were IDB President Enrique
V. Iglesias and Roberto Formigoni, president of Italy's
Lombardi Region, who toured the conference facilities.
Milan, capital of Lombardy, is noted for being Italy's
industrial center. In particular, the success of its
small- and medium-sized industries in meeting the competitive
challenges of the global economy is considered a model.
One of the seminars being held during IDB meeting will
examine how this model can be applied to the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean.
At the meeting's formal sessions March 24-26, the IDB's
Board of Governors will review the Bank's Annual Report
and discuss policies and programs to promote the development
of Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition, participants will attend the many seminars
and other events held in conjunction with the formal
meeting. Subjects will include financing private sector
development, using new information technologies to strengthen
democracy, best practices for social inclusion of marginalized
groups, globalization and the challenge of equitable
development, and implementing employment policies under
fiscal restraints.
The meeting will also be the venue for signing loans
and other operations to support development projects
in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Board of Governors is the IDB's top policymaking
body. Its members include finance and economy ministers,
central bank presidents, and other senior government
officials. The governors represent the IDB's 46 member
countries, which include 28 in the Western Hemisphere,
16 in Europe, as well as Israel and Japan.
The IIC, whose meeting is held concurrently with that
of the IDB, is a member of the IDB Group that supports
small- and medium-sized businesses with loans and investments.
The IDB/IIC Annual Meetings are the premier world forum
on Latin American and Caribbean development issues.
In addition to official delegations, participants include
bankers and businessmen, representatives of international
and nongovernmental organizations, and journalists.
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