Gala Dinner on November 21 was a wonderful success!  Thank you to all who participated.  For more information, click here.

7:30-
11:10 a.m.

Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel, 550 Winter Street, Waltham, MA, 02454

Exit 27B off I-95/Rte 128

Topics to be covered include: FTA opportunities for US companies, Business Opportunities in the IT Sector, Chile as a Springboard to Latin America, Call Centers in Chile, Software Development in Chile, Importance of Chile and Latin America to U.S., High-Tech Industry.

Speakers to include: Mr. Andres Bianchi, Ambassador of Chile to the United States of America; Carlos Alvarez, VP Investment and Development, Chilean Economic Development Agency; Patricio Melo, Director, ALTEC Center, Santander Bank; George Perera, VP Technology Services, Citigroup; Victor Grimblatt, IT consultant; and AnnMarie Treglia, Director of International Trade Regulation, AeA

When: June 20, 7:30 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. 

Where: Doubletree Guest Suites, Waltham, MA. Exit 27B off I-95/Rte 128.

Program Fees: $25 per person

Pre-registration required.   Please RSVP by June 18, 2003 to Anne Dugan at 781-938-1925, email: anne_dugan@aeanet.org or register online:  click here to pay by credit card and register online. 

Or, fill out registration form (Word format) and fax it to: 781-938-0091.  

For details and registration form, see Chile flyer (pdf format).

Conference
8:00 a.m. -
5:00 p.m.

Rhode Island
World Trade Day

Bryant College
Smithfield, Rhode Island

18th Annual World Trade Day 2003

Trade in the Americas

World Trade Day is designed to focus attention on the importance of international trade and how it benefits local and regional businesses.  This year's program provides advice on how to increase your market share by working with our neighbors to the north and south.

Participants will also have the opportunity to network with and learn from other business leaders on successful strategies for trading in the Americas.

For more information, go to the Rhode Island Export Assistance Center website: http://www.rieac.org/ or view World Trade Day Brochure (pdf format).

Breakfast Briefing

8:15 am -
10:30 am

Annual Meeting:
10:30-11:00 a.m.

FleetBoston
2nd floor
100 Federal St.

Boston, MA

Map of location

Mexico's Economy––Waiting for Growth to Return

Forecasts for companies doing business in Mexico

Mexico's economic engine has been stuck in neutral, and the promise of reforms remains but a promise. Unemployment is rising as many maquilas move to China. While the Mexican government has blamed its sluggish economy on the US economic downturn, its northern neighbor can’t be blamed for all. Just as serious are the stifling levels of red tape at every level of the Mexican economy, high taxes and unworkable labor laws, all of which add significant costs and delays to companies manufacturing in Mexico. Whether or not cost-cutting reforms are implemented will depend in large part on the outcome of the midterm elections in July.

Panelists will examine the prospects for more robust economic growth, the likelihood of reforms being implemented, the election outcome, and the implications for companies that are doing business in Mexico.

Panelists:

John Welch, Chief Latin American Economist at the New York branch of WestLB, a German bank.

Fernando Losada, Director, Emerging Markets Economics and Debt Strategy, ABN AMRO, New York

Sylvia Maxfield, Professor of Management, Simmons Graduate School of Management

Panelists will take questions at the conclusion of presentations.

Agenda

Breakfast & Registration: 8:15-8:30a.m.

Presentations: 8:30-9:45 a.m. 

Q&A and Networking: 9:45-10:30 a.m

Cost: 

Pre-registration required.  To register, click here to pay by credit card and register online.  Or, email: info@nelabc.org, telephone: (617) 434-0928.  Click here for printable flyer with registration form.

Cancellation: Cancellation must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2003, or you will be charged the full amount.  For more information, contact Ida Pardo at Tel: (617) 434-0928 or Email: info@nelabc.org.

NELABC's Annual Meeting. After the presentations and discussion, stay for the Council's Annual Meeting. Meet the Board of Directors and participate (members only) in elections for this year's officers and directors.

Click for flyer with registration form to send or fax.

Breakfast Briefing

8:15 am -
10:30 am

FleetBoston
2nd floor
100 Federal St.

Boston, MA

Map of location

Will Brazil's New Government Reduce the "Brazil Cost"?

What the Changes in Policies Mean for Foreign Investors in Brazil

The initial pronouncements from Brazil's new government have pleasantly surprised foreign investors, but the details have yet to be known.  A panel of Brazilian experts will discuss the policies of the Lula government on the private sector, and particularly the implications of the new directions for companies selling to and manufacturing in Latin America's largest economy.

Panelists:

Flavio Grynszpan. President of Motorola do Brasil for the decade of the '90's.  Dr. Grynszpan is the chairman of the Competitiveness and High-Technology Committee of the powerful Federation of Industries of Sao Paulo (FIESP) and the president of Riotec, a high-technology industrial park near Rio de Janeiro.

Ricardo Amorim. Economist and Head of Latin American Research at the economic research firm and think tank IDEAglobal in New York, Mr. Amorim has been trained in Brazil, France, and the United States.  He writes frequently about Brazil in "LatAm Markets Today."

Mario Mesquita. Vice President and Senior Economist for Brazil with the Sao Paulo office of ABN AMRO, Mr. Mesquita writes frequently about business and economic developments in Brazil for ABN AMRO's flagship publications, "Emerging Markets Daily" and "Emerging Markets Fortnightly."  Mr. Mesquita will be joining the seminar by audioconference from Sao Paulo.

Panelists will take questions at the conclusion of presentations.

Agenda

Breakfast & Registration: 8:15-8:30a.m.

Presentations: 8:30-9:45 a.m. 

Q&A and Networking: 9:45-10:30 a.m

Cost: $20 per member,  $50 per non-member

Pre-registration required.  To register, click here to pay by credit card and register online.  Or, email: info@nelabc.org, telephone: (617) 434-0928.  Click here for printable flyer with registration form.

Cancellation: Cancellation must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2003, or you will be charged the full amount.  For more information, contact Ida Pardo at Tel: (617) 434-0928 or Email: info@nelabc.org.

Click for flyer with registration form to send or fax.

Breakfast Briefing

8:15 am -
10:30 am

FleetBoston
2nd floor
100 Federal St.

Boston, MA

Map of location

Three leading New England companies are prospering in Latin America. They will explain their formulas for success, and the challenges yet to be overcome in their Latin American operations.

Panelists:

Ed Haddad, Vice President, International Sales, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., Boston and Lawrence, Massachusetts. 

Since the 1970’s New Balance has been selling shoes in most of Latin America, and the company has locally manufactured in several countries in South America.

Mike Costa, Controller, Quaker Fabric Corporation, Fall River, Massachusetts.

The largest manufacturer of Jacquard upholstery fabric in the world, Quaker Fabrics operates sales offices and warehouses in Mexico and recently opened a bonded warehouse in São Paulo, Brazil. Quaker fabrics is the largest employer in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Oscar Escartin, International Business Manager--Latin America and the Caribbean, LoJack Corporation, Westwood, Massachusetts

As the world leader in stolen vehicle recovery, LoJack is operating in 13 countries in Latin America.  The company is expected to soon begin manufacturing in Latin America as part of its cost-containment strategy.

This seminar will include presentations and plenty of time for questions from the audience, and networking after program is complete.

Cosponsored by:  MassExport and NSHMBA (National Society of Hispanic MBAs).

Agenda

Breakfast & Registration: 8:15-8:30a.m.

Presentations: 8:30-9:45 a.m. 

Q&A and Networking: 9:45-10:30 a.m

Cost: $20 per member,  $50 per non-member

Pre-registration required.  To register, click here to pay by credit card and register online.  Or, email: info@nelabc.org, telephone: (617) 434-0928.   Click here for printable flyer with registration form.

Cancellation: Cancellation must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 24, 2003, or you will be charged the full amount.  For more information, contact Ida Pardo at Tel: (617) 434-0928 or Email: info@nelabc.org.

Click here for flyer to purchase a live audio recording of this event.

Business Forum:
3:00- 6:30 p.m.

Networking Reception & Exhibits:
6:30- 8:00 p.m.

Map of location

The New England-Latin America Business Council in collaboration with the Global Business Alliance of New England invites you to DISCOVER A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES at the:

9th International Networking Evening & Business Forum 
"Adapting to Global Change"

Come join us for the premier international networking event of the year!

This international networking evening regularly attracts over 500 companies involved in international business in New England. The evening will feature exhibits from international trade associations and organizations representing over 5,000 companies in this region. Come and meet people interested in world trade, while learning about the resources available to help your company's international business.

Agenda

Business Forum:  3:00- 6:30 p.m.

3:00-4:30 pm choice of:  Career Forum   or   Government Crackdown: Regulatory and Security Compliance in International Trade 

5:00-6:30 pm.  The Global Economic Outlook: Implications for International Business

Networking Reception & Exhibits:  6:30-8:00 pm

Cost: $65 per person; $75 per person after February 1 and at the door.

Reception only:  $40 per person after February 1 and at the door.

Pre-registration required.  To register, click here to pay by credit card and register online.  Or, email: info@nelabc.org, telephone: (617) 434-0928.  Click here for printable flyer with registration form.

Cancellation: Cancellation must be received by 12 noon on Monday, February 3, 2003, or you will be charged the full amount.  For more information, contact Ida Pardo at Tel: (617) 434-0928 or Email: info@nelabc.org.

Click for flyer with registration form to send or fax.

8:15 am -
10:30 am

Map of location

Latin America has not been immune to the global economic downturn. Given the region's historical volatility, the question is whether the most important economies will return to high rates of growth in 2003. Each of the major Latin American economies, from Mexico to Argentina, are facing serious challenges to growth, yet some, like Brazil and Mexico, could be poised to build on past stability and undertake important structural reforms. Our panelists will review the major challenges--both economic and political--facing the region, and highlight the countries most likely to succeed in 2003.

Please join us on January 29 for an analysis and forecast of the economic and political performance of the most important Latin American economies.

Our Panel of Experts will include:

Chip Brown, Managing Director, Chief Economist and Head of Fixed Income Research for Latin America, Santander Central Hispano Investment Securities, New York

John Coatsworth, Director, David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University

Arturo Porzecanski, Chief Economist of Emerging Markets, ABN AMRO Securities, New York.

Scott Studebaker (Moderator), Editor, Latin American Law & Business Report, Concord, MA

Agenda

Breakfast & Registration: 8:15-8:30a.m.

Presentations: 8:30-9:45 a.m. 

Q&A and Networking: 9:45-10:30 a.m

Cost: $20 per member,  $50 per non-member

Pre-registration required.  To register, click here to pay by credit card and register online.  Or, email: info@nelabc.org, telephone: (617) 434-0928.  Click here for printable flyer with registration form.

Cancellation: Cancellation must be received by 12 noon on Monday, January 27, 2003, or you will be charged the full amount.  For more information, contact Ida Pardo at Tel: (617) 434-0928 or Email: info@nelabc.org.

Click here for flyer to purchase a live audio recording of this event.

12:00 noon -
2:00 pm

Map of location

With Guest Speaker:  Tom Clayton, Father of Kidnap for Ransom Negotiations.  Tom Clayton will discuss:

- Globalization and doing business in high risk locations

- International hotspots

- Travel security

- How to avoid being a victim of a crisis event

- Real case scenarios

- The importance of training, education and contingency planning

Agenda

12:00 – 12:30 pm — Registration and networking reception

12:30 – 2:00pm — Luncheon with Presentation followed by Q&A

Cost: $45 per member,  $55 per non-member

To Register or for further information:  Contact the British American Business Council of New England, Inc., Tel: (617) 720 3622.  Send check made payable to BABCNE to Lewis Whart, Ste 523, Boston, MA  02110, or Fax: (617) 720 4331, Email: babcne@msn.com.  Web: w.w.w.babc.org/newengland.com

Click for flyer with registration form to send or fax.

Mr. Clayton is recognized throughout the world as an expert in hostage negotiation and crisis management response. Prior to entering private industry, Clayton served for 20 years in the highest levels of the foreign service of the United States government. He served several U.S. Presidents and has worked with a wide range of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, multi-national businesses, and select private parties. He lived abroad for many years, mostly in Latin America. He speaks Spanish with near native fluency, and has a working knowledge of French and Portuguese. He has appeared in a number of national television shows and is connected with a worldwide network of resources. Mr. Clayton has B.A. and M.A. degrees in Languages and Administration and a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies.