Venezuela Working Group
Venezuela Working Group
Caracas, Venezuela. (Adobe Stock)
The Venezuela Working Group (VWG) leverages AS/COA’s corporate constituency to provide a unique forum for a constructive, hands-on conversation on Venezuela. The VWG navigates Venezuela’s changing economic and political landscape by convening key national and international stakeholders from the public, private, and social sectors to better understand the country’s present challenges and future political and economic scenarios. Our programs include high-level private and public meetings and discussions.
The VWG is open to and currently includes AS/COA corporate, Chairman’s International Advisory Council, Board of Directors, and President’s Circle members.
This is a historic opportunity to achieve a democratic, prosperous, and stable Venezuela.
Cuba Working Group
Cuba Working Group
(AdobeStock)
Since 2007, the AS/COA Cuba Working Group (CWG) has been at the forefront of a changing U.S.-Cuba relationship. These efforts were evident in the historic rapprochement in December 2014, which reflected our recommendations and policy outreach work in Washington. The working group continues to encourage a policy of engagement with the island.
CWG serves as both a discreet bridge between the private and public sectors in the United States and Cuba, and as an extraordinary repository of policy knowledge on bilateral relations. The group monitors Cuba’s changing economic and political landscape and U.S. ties, while also assisting the private sector in navigating the changing regulatory framework, investment opportunities, and potential areas for collaboration. Current CWG members represent a variety of sectors, including telecommunications and technology, financial services, agriculture and food production, energy, hospitality, and legal services.
The AS/COA CWG’s activities have three main components:
- High-level meetings and roundtable discussions with Cuban and U.S. government officials, leading economists and analysts, entrepreneurs (cuentapropistas), senior-level business leaders, and members of the international diplomatic community, among others.
- Business delegations to Cuba on invitation from Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment.
- Outreach work in Washington to continue to push for full normalization of bilateral relations.
As part of the Cuba Working Group, this off-the-record conversation discussed private enterprise, regulations, and foreign trade.
