Panelists working in Guatemala's private sector discussed the investment climate in the country, naming the main opportunities and challenges for economic growth. Citi's Bernardo Chacin touched on expanding participation of the financial sector in the country's GDP and increasing operations focused on credit, noting that only 35 percent of the population is banked, an opportunity for growth.

Enel Green Power's Orlando López discussed the private sector operations in rural areas of the country, saying that companies can be "agents of development in remote communities," acting with transparency and creating partnerships with local communities. Fedex's Jorge Mario Mendonza listed logistics opportunities and spoke about the importance of a potential Central American bloc, noting the benefits of taxation system similar to the European Union.

Speakers:

• Enrique Godoy, Journalist, Canal Antigua (moderator)
• Orlando López, Country Manager, Enel Green Power
• Jorge Mario Mendoza, Senior Manager, FedEx Guatemala
• Bernardo Chacin, Country Officer, Citi Guatemala

Speakers:

• Oscar Calvo González,  Chief Economist for Central America, World Bank (keynote speaker)
• Alexandra Aguirre, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP (moderator)
• Juan Carlos Paiz, Competitiveness Presidential Commissioner, Guatemala
• Osman Rodríguez, CEO, Telefónica Centroamérica

The keynote speaker spoke about Guatemala’s role in Central America, and panelists offered insights on the issue of regional integration.

Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina ended the conference with detailing the country's recent accomplishments as well as challenges that still lie ahead. He pointed to the country's security reforms and a variety of bilateral projects with Mexico, including ones to strengthen energy and trade relations. Finally, he reiterated his government's commitment to fight poverty and seek further integration with Central America.

Speakers:

• Mauricio López Bonilla,  Minister of the Interior, Guatemala (keynote speaker)
• Luis Pellecer, Journalist, Grupo Albavisión (moderator)
• Juan Carlos Zapata, Executive Director, FUNDESA
• Fernando Bolaños, CEO, AgroAmerica
• Vanessa Rubio, Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Mexico

While Guatemala's economy has made strides, private- and public-sector leaders seek a stretegy to accelarate momentum. Minister of the Interior Mauricio López Bonilla highlighted the need to strengthen institutions, such as improving the justice system and police force, and subsequently bringing down the crime rate. The panel also pointed to cooperation within the region and government resources to rural areas in Guatemala as next steps for the country's progress.

Speakers:

• Susan Segal,  President & CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
• Felipe Bosch, President, FUNDESA
• Rodrigo Vielmann, Viceminister of Foreign Relations, Guatemala

To open AS/COA's 2014 Guatemala City Conference, speakers spoke about Guatemala's advances in development, investment, and regional integration.

Guatemala's Economy Minister Sergio de la Torre opened his presentation on the country's path for economic development stressing the need to invest in social inclusion in order for economic growth to be sustainable. At the same time, he noted that without accelerating productivity and growing the economy, social development is not possible.

The minister listed the country's major infrastructure projects, highlighting two main ways to grow the economy: a heavy industrial corridor that would integrate trade with Mexico, which would "open the doors to NAFTA" and lower energy costs in Guatemala by 75 percent; and a goods manufacturing corridor, with logistics to integrate Central America's markets and develop four cities in Guatemala, which the government chose as special development zones.