Hemispheric event will bring together high-level country officials, top business leaders, and heads of state

The Colombian private sector and the Colombian government are holding the first CEO Summit of the Americas this April, with technical support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

At the meeting, heads of state from the Americas will join with business leaders to analyze major current and future trade and investment opportunities in the Americas. Topics will include globalization and development, infrastructure for sustainable development, human capital for the knowledge economy, and economic growth and natural resources.

The forum will be held April 12-14 at the Hilton Hotel in Cartagena de Indias. Business leaders who have confirmed their participation include Indra Nooyi, CEO, Pepsico Inc; André Esteves, CEO, BTG Pactual; Jose Antonio Fernandez, CEO, FEMSA; Luis Carlos Villegas, president, ANDI; Richard Waugh, president & CEO, Bank of Nova Scotia; Marcelo Odebrecht, CEO, Odebrecht; Aaron Regent, CEO, Barrick Gold Corp.; Stanley Motta, chairman, Copa Holdings; and Enrique Pescarmona, CEO, IMPSA.

Seminar sessions will be open and broadcast live. However, due to space restrictions, journalists who wish to attend must register before March 1 on the media registration page for the website of the VI Summit of the Americas.

In addition, journalists must indicate their intention to cover the event and the media organization they represent in an email to silviad@iadb.org. Journalists who do not specifically express their intention to attend the forum will have access only to the press room.

Access to the forum will be subject to space availability.