Speakers

• Mauricio Macri, President of Argentina
• William R. Rhodes, Chairman Emeritus, AS/COA

Americas Society's awarded President of Argentina Mauricio Macri the Gold Insigne in recognition of his transformative leadership in Argentina and throughout the hemisphere. "I really believe this distinction is deserved by the Argentines who believe in their future, who don't accept resignation as a possibility, and who think this is a definitive opportunity to develop the country," said President Macri in his remarks before a select audience of private-sector representatives in New York. "This is the moment you have to be down there investing and betting in our future. It will be our future," said the president.

Panelistas:

• Michelle Bachelet, Presidenta de Chile
• Juan Manuel Santos, Presidente de Colombia
• Eduardo Ferreyros, Ministro de Comercio Exterior y Turismo de Perú
• Luis Videgaray Caso, Secretario de Relaciones Exteriores de México
• Alicia Bárcena, Secretaria Ejecutiva de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (moderator)

Watch a video of this event with English audio.

¿Cuál es la próxima etapa para la Alianza del Pacífico? Los presidentes de Chile y Colombia compartieron sus perspectivas en un panel el 20 de septiembre en Nueva York junto al secretario de comercio exterior de Perú y el secretario de relaciones exteriores de México. Atraer más inversión es una prioridad, ya que en general los flujos de inversión extranjera a Latinoamérica han ido disminuyendo desde el 2011, dijo la Presidenta de Chile Michelle Bachelet. Ya los cuatro países del bloque—Chile, Colombia, México y Perú—son los que más crecen en la región, y por eso "tienen un potencial inmenso", añadió el Presidente de Colombia Juan Manuel Santos.

El bloque en si representa 39 por ciento del PBI de la región y 54 por ciento de su comercio. Ahora toca mirar hacia afuera de la alianza, dijo Secretario de Relaciones Exteriores de México Luis Videgaray. En junio la alianza aprobó el primer grupo de países asociados para comenzar a negociar como bloque un tratado de comercio libre con Australia, Canadá, Nueva Zelanda y Singapur. Era tanto el interés, que "fue casí un 'beauty contest'", dijo Videgaray.

While free trade has become unpopular in some parts of the world, the presidents of the Pacific Alliance trade bloc make the case for its benefits. Chile, Colombia, and Peru's presidents, along with Mexico's economy secretary, took on the subject at an AS/COA event on September 21 during their visit to New York for the 71st UN General Assembly. "Opening up economies has been extremely productive to the world," said recently elected Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. "We've had the best period of growth in the last 50 years."

In this highlights video of the panel, the leaders also discussed their hopes for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as well as their views on the U.S. election. Mexico's Ildefonso Guajardo emphasized the importance of maintaining stable U.S.-Mexico ties, saying: "If we have to talk to the devil to guarantee the safety and future of the Mexican people in Mexico and the U.S., we'll talk to the devil."

• Watch the complete panel.
• Get the background on the Pacific Alliance trade bloc.
• Learn about TPP.
• Access information about COA's Trade Advisory Group and a series of fact sheets about trade.

Speakers:

• Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile
• Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, President of Peru
• Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia
• Ildefonso Guajardo, Economy Secretary, Mexico
• Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Chief International Correspondent, CNBC (moderator)

In conjunction with the 71st UN General Assembly debate in New York, presidents of Chile, Colombia, and Peru, along with Mexico's economy secretary, came together to talk about investment and how to spur productivity and capital integration in their countries, while also touching on the possibility of a Donald Trump presidency and the political scenario in Venezuela.

O Presidente do Brasil Michel Temer fez um convite a representantes ao setor privado em Nova York para que investissem no país. Ele disse que a confiança no Brasil está retornando e que o país apresenta estabilidade jurídica e que sua administração possui apoio do Congresso nacional para implementar mudanças orçamentárias drásticas, como a reforma da previdência e o estabelecimento de um novo teto para gastos do governo federal.

Brazil's Minister of Finance Henrique Meirelles gave a presentation to private sector representatives in New York following President Michel Temer's speech inviting investors to focus on the country's infrastructure. Meirelles outlined federal government goals, such as a limit on spending ceiling, reducing the country's debt, and increasing productivity. He said that the confidence of investors and consumers in the country is growing, and that Brazil's GDP should rise along with that growing confidence.

O Presidente do Brasil Michel Temer falou com a imprensa em Nova York após participar de um evento do Conselho das Américas com representantes do setor privado. Respondendo questões dos jornalistas presentes, o presidente falou sobre as últimas denúncias da Lava Jato e a estabilidade política no país, o teto de gastos proposto pelo governo e a presença da Venezuela no Mercosul. 

One week after a historic agreement in the peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, best known as the FARC, President Juan Manuel Santos sat down for an interview with CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera in the Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel in New York.

In this clip, watch highlights of a discussion, in which Santos talked about how the peace process would affect the economy, his reaction to online criticisms from former president Álvaro Uribe, and the agreement on transitional justice.

• Watch the full interview with President Santos.
• Read more about the historic agreement.

• Catch highlights of President Santos' interview.

One week after a historic agreement in the peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, best known as the FARC, President Juan Manuel Santos sat down for an interview with CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera in the Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel in New York.

The peace process “is the best thing that’s happened to Colombia for many years,” said Santos, addressing the room in English. Moreover, he said, it’s good for business: experts estimate that a peace accord could raise the country’s economic growth by 1.5 percent in perpetuity. He cited agribusiness in particular as having a “huge potential” to take off with a peace deal since rural areas, typically where the conflict plays out, can be developed and production will expand. Santos noted that the country currently has one of the highest growth rates among medium- and large-sized countries in Latin America, despite the ongoing 50-year conflict. “Colombia already is good for investment—can you imagine what we can do without the cost of the war?”

Santos defended the September 23 agreement on transitional justice, saying that, contrary to reports, it offers no impunity for crimes committed, and that only some 50 to 60 people will receive reduced sentences. He said the agreement exceeds the requirements of international human rights agreements to which Colombia subscribes, thanks to the legal expertise of University of Notre Dame professor Douglass Cassel, who advised Santos on the agreement.

Caruso-Cabrera asked about what Colombian society might look like with ex-fighters reintegrated into society. For example, would they be able to participate politically? “Of course,” said Santos. “That’s the whole purpose of this peace process: for them to lay down their arms and continue their ideological struggle through legal means.” So could FARC head Timochenko be able to run for president one day? She asked. “Why not?” Santos replied. “But I don’t think he’ll get many votes...[The FARC] are not very popular.”

Costa Rica is not only bringing Central America together as one voice on climate change, says President Luis Guillermo Solís, but it's also expanding relations with Africa and the Middle East to develop regional industries within the Caribbean and Latin America. "You have to add diplomacy to trade policies. You can't do one without the other and be successful," said the president, who sat down with AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal while in New York City for the UN General Assembly. Solís said that regional efforts to work together on trade and tourism help Costa Rica to join in on strategies in the works. "This is the case with partners such as Colombia and will be the case, I hope, when the Cuban tourism market becomes completely normalized," he said.

Solís talked about a $300 million project to expand broadband for educational purposes, as well as efforts to boost math and science education. "We have not been teaching children to enjoy math and science and we have to," said the president.

He also spoke of of his efforts to support gender diversity on a multilateral level, saying: "It is already time for a woman to run the United Nations."