Thread: Press Release Source: Florida FTAA, Inc.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051101/nytu096.html?.v=25

Press Release Source: Florida FTAA, Inc.

Florida FTAA Leads Mission to the Summit of the Americas in Argentina
Tuesday November 1, 6:00 am ET
Florida FTAA will Participate in the Business Forum in Buenos Aires Preceding the Presidential Summit in Mar del Plata

MIAMI, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida FTAA, Inc. is leading a delegation to the Private Sector Forum taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina and preceding the IV Summit of the Americas "Creating Jobs to Address Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance" taking place in Mar del Plata November 4 and 5.


The Private Sector Forum is endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the OAS General Secretariat. About 200 executives from the hemisphere will discuss the role of the private sector in the creation of jobs to fight poverty, the promotion of democratic governance and transparency, education and technological innovation as well as trade, infrastructure and investment. This initiative stems from the results of the First Meeting of the Private Sector Forum which was held in Fort Lauderdale in June during the 35th meeting of the OAS General Assembly.

The delegation is led by Jorge L. Arrizurieta, President of Florida FTAA and includes the following members; Francisco Santeiro, Fedex Express Corp.; Ruben Gomez and Sebastian Gomez of Global Consulting Group USA; Ana Guevara and Pablo Magallanes of UPS and Manny Mencia, Enterprise Florida.

Susan Segal and Matias Zaldua of the Council of the Americas; Kathleen Barclay, President of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce of Latin America (AACLA); John Murphy, Sr. VP for Western Hemisphere of US Chamber of Commerce and Orlando Padilla of General Motors will join the Florida delegation for some of the activities and an additional 30 participants from the United States will compose the total US delegation.

The day before the Forum, the group comprising the Florida FTAA delegation has been invited to a luncheon hosted by Martin Redrado, Argentine Central Bank President and former Vice Minister of Trade for Argentina. Later that evening to a reception at the residence of Ambassador Lino Gutierrez in honor of Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez.

The Private Sector Forum will include the inauguration with H.E. Nestor Kirchner followed by remarks from Rafael Bielsa, Minister of Foreign Relations for Argentina; H.E. Elias Saca, President of El Salvador and H.E. Samuel Lewis Navarro, Vice President of Panama. The three sessions will cover topics ranging from presentations of proposals for sustainable growth to competition and job creation. The luncheon speakers are Vice President Daniel Scioli of Argentina and the Hon. Carlos Gutierrez, US Secretary of Commerce.

"This is a very important hemispheric opportunity for Florida FTAA to continue its effort in support of free trade in the Americas. It is expected that a number of nations will join the United States at this meeting in support of reaffirming the region's commitment to the FTAA. This meeting combined with the prospects of progress in the DOHA round in Hong Kong in early December are important steps to reenergizing the FTAA in 2006," said Arrizurieta.

If progress takes place in Mar del Plata and later in Hong Kong we are cautiously optimistic that a meeting of the Vice Ministers might take place in early 2006 with the final Ministerial meeting taking place thereafter. All leading to the eventual naming of the FTAA Permanent Secretariat and the completion of the FTAA process," added Arrizurieta.

Florida FTAA already has the announced support of Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Nicaragua, and Honduras, while Colombia and Costa Rica will support on a second round and other countries have requested their commitments to support us to be publicized," concluded Arrizurieta.

The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), currently being negotiated by 34 democratically elected Western Hemisphere nations, is intended to be the most far-reaching trade agreement in history. It is an effort to unite the economies of the Western Hemisphere into a single free trade agreement comprising 800 million consumers with a combined gross domestic product of $14 trillion.

Florida FTAA, Inc. is the private-public entity led by Governor Jeb Bush, City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and officials throughout the State of Florida with the mission that Miami, Florida become the site of the Permanent Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Florida FTAA is chaired by Ambassador Charles E. Cobb, Jr. and managed by President Jorge L. Arrizurieta. The administrative offices are located at the Biltmore Hotel Conference Center of the Americas in Coral Gables, Florida.


Source: Florida FTAA, Inc.

I see they are putting out press releases to push their anti-American FTAA agenda. Interesting that this release was put out by the Florida FTAA INC as in a Corporation???

Originally Posted by jp_48504

I see they are putting out press releases to push their anti-American FTAA agenda. Interesting that this release was put out by the Florida FTAA INC as in a Corporation???

You might like this one too. JP


DEWINE, NELSON BILL WOULD SPUR TRADE WITH HAITI TO PROMPT REFORM

Contact: Jeff Sadosky
Friday, October 28, 2005


Click here for
U.S. Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Bill Nelson (D-FL), late yesterday introduced the Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity (HERO) Act, intended to improve the economic and political situation in Haiti by promoting trade. This bill would use trade incentives to encourage the Haitian government to make much needed reforms, while encouraging foreign direct investment, a powerful development tool.

“Haiti is the poorest country in our hemisphere, the people there lack both political stability and a secure future,� said Senator DeWine. “This bill would encourage trade with Haiti, helping the country gain a firmer footing in the global economy, while encouraging needed reform. I hope my colleagues will choose to stand with this struggling country in their time of need.�

“I believe this legislation is critical to getting the Haitian economy up and running again,� Senator Nelson said. “By expanding their economic opportunities and reforming the Haitian government, this is a step towards improving the quality of life of average Haitians.�

The HERO Act would amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, granting duty-free status to Haitian apparel. Haitian apparel accounts for less than one half of one percent of all U.S. apparel imports, and the bill would cap the duty-free imports at 1.5 percent growing modestly over time to 3.5 percent. In order for Haiti to be eligible for the benefits, the President of the United States must certify to Congress that the Haitian government is making significant political, economic, and social reforms.

The Senate approved a similar in 2004 during the 108th Congress, but it failed to receive a vote in the House of Representatives.

Other cosponsors include Senators Dick Lugar (R-IN), Joe Biden (D-DE), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John McCain (R-AZ), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Jeff Bingaman(D-NM), John Sununu (R-NH), James Jeffords (I-VT), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Lincoln Chaffee (R-RI), George Voinovich (R-OH), Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS).

Sure Scub,
If McCain & Lieberman are for it then it must be okay.

Trade is not going to help Haiti. They need leadership that will teach the people there to become self-sufficient and will take control of the country, stopping the bloodshed that seems to happen continuously there.