Panelists

• Marcello Estevão, Secretary for International Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Brazil
• Philippe Le Houérou, Chief Executive Officer, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group
• David Malpass, Undersecretary for International Affairs, U.S. Department of Treasury
• Shawn Donnan, World Trade Editor, Financial Times (moderator)

In a focused conversation at the 48th Washington Conference on the Americas, panelists discussed motors for regional economic growth in Latin America, including infrastructure spending and good governance reforms. Moderator Shawn Donnan asked the panel about news that Argentine President Mauricio Macri is requesting a credit line from the International Monetary Fund. “We’ll be watching the discussions closely,” said David Malpass, U.S. Treasury undersecretary for international affairs, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump is supportive of Macri and his reform agenda.

• Learn more about and get additional materials from the 48th Washington Conference on the Americas.

Speakers:

• Daniel Artana, Chief Economist, FIEL, Presentation: "Fiscal and External Challenges" (Download his presentation.)
• Juan Luis Bour, Chief Economist, FIEL, Presentation: "Growth and Inflation" (Download his presentation.)
• Fernando Navajas, Chief Economist, FIEL, Presentation: "PPP, Infrastructure, and Growth" (Download his presentation.)

Argentina's GDP is expected to grow 2.5 percent in 2018, per the estimates of the Fundación de Investigaciones Económicas Latinoamericanas (FIEL). At an event in New York, three FIEL economists explained the factors behind Argentina's economic prospects for 2018, from the effects of infrastrucutre investment to the trajectory of inflation to government spending. The economists also answered questions about the Macri adminstration's economic reforms and ability to work with the Congress.

"Itaú Unibanco is the multilatina of banking," said AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal as she introduced the bank's Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors Roberto Setubal in a fireside chat at the Latin American Business Conference 2018. Setubal discussed the main drivers of change in the financial services sector, from blockchain to mobile technology, and shared his personal insights in leading small and big companies alike in Latin America.

Learn about Young Professionals of the Americas.

Speakers:

• Alessandro Carlucci, Former CEO, Natura
• Alejandro Camino, Chief Marketing Officer, Softtek
• Federico Eisner, Managing Partner, Bain & Company South America
• Alonso Martinez, Senior Lecturer, Columbia Business School (moderator)

At the Latin American Business Conference 2018, organized by AS/COA's Young Professionals of the Americas, panelists shared their insights as to what it takes to expand Latin American companies at a regional scale and beyond. They discussed the areas where they need to be more competitive, as well as the necessity for investment in education.

Learn more about Young Professionals of the Americas.

BlackRock's head of the Americas region, Mark McCombe, gave the opening keynote to the Latin American Business Conference 2018, organized by AS/COA's Young Professionals of the Americas. McCombe gave an overview of the region's investment climate, highlighting its strengths, such as its human capital and political maturity. McCombe also noted BlackRock's long-term confidence in Mexico's economy, as well as the positive regulatory changes in countries like Argentina, Chile, and Colombia.

Learn more about Young Professionals of the Americas.