Keynote speaker:

• Alfredo Cornejo, Governor of Mendoza, Argentina

Panel:

• Alberto Bernal, Chief of Strategy, XP Investments
• Joydeep Mukherji, Head of Sovereign Ratings in Latin America and the Caribbean, S&P Global Ratings
• Casey Reckman, Director Emerging Markets Economics Group, Credit Suisse
• Juan Cruz Díaz, Special Advisor, Americas Society/Council of the Americas and Managing Director, Cefeidas Group (moderator)

All eyes are on Argentina's economic recovery as the country prepares for a presidential election on October 27. An expert panel in New York agreed the country's prospects look to improve in 2019 over the previous year, as the currency stabilizes and inflation drops. Although S&P dropped Argentina's rating to a B last November, Joydeep Mukherji said the ratings agency's stable outlook for the country is more telling. The forecast, however, depends on broad policy continuity under the next government, agreed the panelists. Mauricio Macri's chances at reelection will depend on the peso's performance, noted Alberto Bernal, who projects the election will ultimately come down to Macri and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner—if she runs for president—and is unlikely to be upended by an outsider. Aside from maintaining a path of macroeconomic reform, Casey Reckman highlighted governability will be key for the next administration, which would do well to tackle pension and labor reform as well. 

Before the discussion, Mendoza Governor Alfredo Cornejo gave a presentation on the province's progress in fostering a good environment for investors, in spite of Argentina's economic challenges. Cornejo spoke about measures his adminstration took to provide basic services and create smart regulations for companies like Uber in recent years. "Mendoza and Cordoba are the only provinces in Argentina that did not default when Argentina defaulted," he said. "We are careful with contracts."

Panelists:

• Carlos Bravo Regidor, Professor, Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE); Columnist, Reforma
• Jorge Guajardo, Senior Director, McLarty Associates 
• Valeria Moy, Director, México, ¿Cómo Vamos?; Columnist, Milenio
• Brian Winter, Editor-in-Chief, Americas Quarterly; Vice President, Policy, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (moderator)

Two months into the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Americas Quarterly and AS/COA convened leading Mexican experts to discuss the country's political and economic trajectory in the coming year and beyond. Panelists discussed how the markets are reacting to López Obrador's policy proposals, with Valeria Moy noting: "The markets have been extremely lenient." When asked who AMLO turns to for advice, Jorge Guajardo answered: "No one other than his whim." As moderator, Brian Winter asked how panelists see the president achieving the changes demanded by the electorate, CIDE's Carlos Bravo Regidor suggested that, to give AMLO the benefit of the doubt, the disruptive nature of the start of his administration may well relate to what change looks like in Mexico. "Why wouldn't change be messy?" he asked.

• Read at Americas Quarterly: AMLO 2019 — A Primer on Mexico's New Government
• Follow the first 100 days of AMLO's presidency.

Orador de Orden

• Roque Benavides, Presidente de la Confederación Nacional de Instituciones Empresariales Privadas (Baje su presentación.)

En la conferencia del Consejo de las Américas en Lima, Roque Benavides empezó su participación hablando de la alta tolerancia de los Peruanos con la corrupción y la necesidad de que todos en el país hagan una mea culpa "y denuncien desde el pequeño al gran soborno". Benavides habló sobre el impacto que ha tenido la operación Lava Jato en la economía del país y reportó sobre el Consejo Privado Anticorrupción y los códigos de ética implementados recientemente en el país.

Vea más videos de la conferencia.