DUBAI: His Excellency Juan Carlos Varela, President of Panama, will join government and business leaders in Panama City next month for the Global Business Forum Latin America – Panama 2019 where he will share his perspectives and insights on expanding economic ties between Latin American and Gulf countries.
The third edition of GBF Latin America will be held on April 9th-10th, 2019 under the theme “Next Hubs, New Regions.” The high-level forum is organised by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and programmed in association with the Economist Events.
GBF Latin America – Panama 2019 will delve into a wide variety of economic trends, timely topics and issues impacting both regions, in addition to business opportunities that are emerging in key sectors of mutual interest such as logistics, tourism, agriculture, finance, renewable energy and manufacturing.
Key Sessions: Day 1
The first day of the forum will feature a special session entitled “Building Closer Global Ties” that will be joined by the Panamanian President who will speak about how his country is promoting interregional dialogue and building international relations, resetting its relationship with China and creating new ties with the wider Gulf region.
Another key session will examine the changing dynamics of global trade and investment, with public and private sector stakeholders, discussing how Latin American, Gulf and Caribbean countries are rethinking their approach to globalisation and establishing new economic partnerships.
The discussion will be followed by “The Role of Regional Trade Agreements – Boosting Global Business?” – a session that will take a closer look at how regional trade are accelerating diversification and focus on how companies operating across borders in Latin America and the Caribbean regions are benefiting from such alliances.
During an interactive dialogue, industry experts will discuss how countries in these regions are creating synergies through closer cooperation, while government and business leaders will join several country-focused sessions that will put the spotlight on the changing economic landscape in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, as well as exciting trade and investment opportunities that are emerging in these markets.
Business and finance leaders will explore prospects for building new partnerships between “The New Globalisers” – namely the Latin America, Caribbean and GCC regions –that support economic growth and foster innovation, while avoiding the dangers of over-dependence on key markets.
The final session on day one will focus on Panama’s transformation from a short-cut for shipping to a fast-growing logistics hub that foreign companies can leverage as a gateway to access markets across Latin American and the Caribbean. Other key topics and issues set to be discussed on the first day include the role of entrepreneurship and innovative technologies in disrupting Latin America industries and reshaping the region’s economic landscape.
Key Sessions: Day Two
The second day of the forum will kick off with a session entitled “Find the Gap – Realising New Trade and Investment Potential”, examining how business relations between the Gulf and Latin America regions have grown seven-fold since 2000, to be followed by another session showcasing the competitive advantages that Dubai can provide Latin American companies as a global gateway providing easy access to markets across the GCC, Africa, and Asia.
Industry experts will share their insights and thoughts during a series of panel discussions held throughout the day that will address several issues and topics related to key economic sectors including, “Opportunities in the Energy Transition – Beyond Renewable”, “Leveraging Logistics – Reducing Friction in Global Supply Chains Dubai”, and “Food Security and Sustainability – Rethinking Agribusiness.”
Other key sessions on day two include “Insight into Digital Disruption – Enabling the Future” which will be joined by the founders of leading startups in Latin America and the UAE who will discuss business potential in the digital age and the realities for entrepreneurs in emerging regions, as well as “Hub-to-Hub Strategies – Linking Global Gateways” that will highlight Dubai-Panama synergies and the important role of public-private sector collaboration in creating a self-sustaining business ecosystem that can draw in regional and global talent.
Commenting on the upcoming forum, H.E. Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry said: “The impressive line-up of high calibre officials and delegates taking part in GBF Latin America – Panama 2019 reflects the strong commitment of public and private on both sides in building new bridges of economic cooperation, while it also shows growing confidence in Dubai as a global gateway for Latin American companies.”
H.E. Buamim noted that the third edition of GBF Latin America will build on the progress that has already been achieved by previous editions of the forum in Dubai, and explained that the upcoming forum in Panama will support Dubai Chamber’s international expansion strategy which focuses partly on identifying business opportunities for its members in promising Latin American markets.
GBF Latin America has had a positive impact on bilateral relations in recent years, according to H.E. Buamim, with several strategic cooperation agreements signed, while the number of Latin American companies registered with Dubai Chamber has surged from 157 in 2016 to over 400 by the end of 2018.
“Given the vast business potential that has yet to be fully explored by companies in the GCC, Latin America and the Caribbean regions, we structured the programme to cover a wide scope of topics, issues, and sectors of mutual importance. From cooperation on food security to joint ventures focused on renewable energy to competitive advantages offered by dynamic trade hubs such as Dubai and Panama, the forum will examine all potential areas where business communities in these regions can expand their cooperation,” added H.E. Buamim.
GBF Latin America – Panama 2019 is part of Dubai Chamber’s Global Business Forum series which focused on exploring business potential in Latin America, Africa and the CIS region. Held in Dubai, GBF Latin America 2018 attracted the participation of more than 1,300 delegates from 40 countries. News Desk
