Panelists

• Juan José Echavarría, Governor, Central Bank of Colombia
• Arminio Fraga, Co-Founder & CEO, Gávea Investimentos; former President of the Central Bank of Brazil
• Susan Segal, President & CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (moderator)

“The case for opening the economy is very clear,” said Colombian Central Bank Governor Juan José Echevarría at the Latin American Business Conference 2019, making the case for increased regional integration and trade. Similary, former Brazilian Central Bank President Arminio Fraga suggested Brazil should join economic blocs like the Pacific Alliance. The two also discussed different areas of potential reform in their respective countries.

Learn more about conference co-organizers, Young Professionals of the Americas.

Speakers:

• Armando Senra, Head of Latin America and Iberia, BlackRock
• Paul Kilby, Deputy U.S. Credit Editor, IFR Refinitiv (moderator)

Without structural reforms, Brazil cannot unleash its economic potential, said BlackRock's Armando Senra at the Latin America Business Conference 2019. In conversation with journalist Paul Kilby, Senra discussed the internal and external factors affecting the region's progress, from populism to trade negotiations. Fragmentation of markets is a key challenge in the region, Senra noted, explaining how Latin America can work toward deeper cross-border integration to develop capital markets.

Learn more about conference co-organizers, Young Profesionals of the Americas.

Keynote:

• Alejandro Werner, Director, Western Hemisphere Department, International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Latin America's GDP is set to grow 2 percent in 2019, a jump from 1 percent last year. "It’s a reflection of the Brazilian economy expanding at a faster pace and Argentina contracting by less than it did in 2018," said the IMF's Alejandro Werner at the Latin America Business Conference 2018. Werner went on to explain the various factors affecting growth, from a move away from 2018's global financial tightening to the change in commodity prices.

Learn more about conference co-organizers, Young Profesionals of the Americas.

Speakers:

• Alejandro Werner, Director, Western Hemisphere Department, International Monetary Fund
• Gerardo Rodriguez, Managing Director of Emerging Markets, BlackRock (interviewer)

The International Monetary Fund's Alejandro Werner returned to AS/COA for an annual outlook on the region's economic prospects. The fund's Western Hemisphere director covered the new administrations in Brazil and Mexico, as well as Argentina's economic reforms in an electoral year. Werner highlighted Bolsonaro's economic team opening up one of Latin America's most closed markets and noted that Mexico's attempts to curb fuel theft were sensible. He cautioned, however, that these government have been in office for few months and thus any conclusive assessment of their policies is premature. Werner also pointed out that if Argentina elects a new administration, the current IMF deal with the country would be reviewed.