Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal. (Alexis Silver/Roey Yohai Photography)

Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal. (Alexis Silver/Roey Yohai Photography)

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AS/COA Hosts Presidents and Leaders during the 80th UN General Assembly

Presidents, as well as ministers, are visiting AS/COA to meet with members about investment and economic opportunities, as well as country-specific issues.

During the week of September 22, presidents and ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean are visiting our headquarters at 680 Park Avenue for private meetings. On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the leaders met with AS/COA members to discuss investment opportunities, economic themes, and country-specific issues.

“ What we try to do during UNGA, and all throughout the year, is bring the public and private sector together to have important conversations about the most pressing issues in the hemisphere,” said AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal. “ At a time where there is more uncertainty, the most important thing is communication—for people to speak, to get together, and to be open and frank. And the only way to solve issues and confront problems is through engagement. And that's what we offer here at America Society/Council of the Americas."

Images by Alexis Silver/Roey Yohai Photography Studio.

José Raúl Mulino, Panama

On September 22, AS/COA was proud to host Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino for a private breakfast with members. Mulino spoke about his efforts to improve the country’s fiscal situation and strengthen the conditions for investment. This was Mulino's second time visiting AS/COA while in New York for UNGA.

Mulino was accompanied by First Lady Maricel Cohen de Mulino, Minister of Commerce and Industries Julio Moltó, Minister of Economy and Finance Felipe Chapman, Minister for Canal Affairs and President of the Board of Director of the Panama Canal Authority José Ramón Icaza, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Hoyos,Vice Minister of Economy Eida Gabriela Sáiz, Secretary of Economic Affairs and Competitiveness Kristelle Getzler, General Administrator of the Innovation Authority Adolfo Fábrega, and Advisor to the President Sofía Cohen.

The meeting with Mulino was co-chaired by Segal and AS/COA Chairman Andrés Gluski.

Mulino

Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, Suriname

AS/COA hosted President of Suriname Jennifer Geerlings-Simons on September 22 for her first visit to our New York headquarters. Geerlings-Simons, who assumed her office in July, spoke in an event chaired by Segal about developing the country’s oil and gas industry, advocating for Amazon conservation, and promoting public-private partnerships.

Geerlings-Simons was accompanied by Chief of Staff of the Cabinet of the President Sergio Akiemboto, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation Melvin Bouva, Senior Advisor to the Minister Ambassador Yldiz Pollack-Beighle, Senior Advisor to the Minister Ambassador Michel Kerpens, and Permanent Representative of the Mission of the Republic of Suriname to the UN Ambassador Sunil Sitaldin.

Suriname

Yamandú Orsi, Uruguay

During his first visit to New York to address UNGA, Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi joined AS/COA for a dinner in his honor on September 22, chaired by Segal. He spoke about regional relations, fiscal stability, and growing sectors like data centers and AI.

The president was accompanied by Minister of Economy and Finance Gabriel Oddone, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Lubetkin, Minister of Public Health Cristina Lustemberg, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Laura Dupuy, Ambassador to the U.S. Daniel Castillos, Ambassador to Argentina Diego Canepa, Free Trade Zones National Director Isabella Antonaccio, Private Secretary of the President Horacio Rivero, and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Gabriela González.

Yamandú Orsi

Luis Abinader, Dominican Republic

On September 23, Dominican President Luis Abinader joined AS/COA for a private event with corporate members, co-chaired by AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal and AS/COA Chairman Andrés Gluski. Abinader highlighted business and investment opportunities in his country, spoke on AI and the digital transformation, and outlined his plans as host of this year’s Summit of the Americas, which will be in the Dominican Republic in December.

The president was accompanied by Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs Víctor "Ito" Bisonó, Minister of Health Víctor Atallah, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the U.S. María Isabel Castillo Báez, Consul General of the Dominican Republic in New York Jesús Vásquez, and President of the Consejo Nacional de la Empresa Privada (Conep) Celso Juan Marranzini.

Abinader