New Orleans is the first site for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2004 Colombia Ambassadorial Tour and Business Outlook Series, an effort by both countries to build the grassroots support for a free trade agreement.
Keynote Luncheon Speaker H.E. Luis Alberto Moreno Ambassador of Colombia  to the United States
A Business Forum Monday April 19, 2004 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Plimsoll Club, 30th Floor, WTC (Free validated parking  in the WTC Garage)

Agenda

WELCOMING REMARKS

Charles Nelson, President-Elect, World Trade Center

Mark Smith, Director, Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

FACES OF TRADE WITH COLOMBIA
Moderator: Leslie Schweitzer, Senior Trade Advisor, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• Luis Cuervo, Fowler Rodriguez & Chalos
• Felipe Gomez, Regional Manager, Perishables Group International
• Robert Landry, Senior Marketing Manager, Port of New Orleans

BUILDING SUPPORT FOR A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Mark Smith, Director, Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

 

LUNCH

Introduction of Keynote Speaker By:

The Honorable William Jefferson (D-LA)

Keynote Speaker:

His Excellency Luis Alberto Moreno

Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to the United States

Luis Alberto Moreno was appointed Ambassador in September 1998 by President Andrés Pastrana and ratified by President Alvaro Uribe upon his election in May 2002. He has overseen a dramatic improvement in Colombian-U.S. bilateral relations during his tenure in Washington, including the successful effort to build strong bipartisan support in the United States Congress for passage of a more than $2 billion U.S. assistance program for Colombia. He was also instrumental in the renewal and extension of the Andean Trade Preferences Act - ATPA.  

Prior to his post as Ambassador, Mr. Moreno he was an associate in a private equity firm with investments in Latin America. Previously, he served as senior advisor to the Luis Carlos Sarmiento Organization, the leading Colombian financial group. From 1991 to 1994, he served as Minister of Economic Development during the administration of President César Gaviria (1990-1994). As Minister, Mr. Moreno modernized the Ministry and its subordinated agencies to implement and improve a series of Colombian market liberalization initiatives. From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Moreno was the President of the Instituto de Fomento Industrial, IFI, the leading governmental financial corporation of Colombia and owner of some of the largest state enterprises in the country. As its head, Mr. Moreno led an aggressive privatization program and developed new lines of credit for Colombian industries.

Ambassador Moreno received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from Florida Atlantic University and an MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management at Thunderbird University. He was also a Neiman Fellow at Harvard University.

 

In Cooperation With

 

Ark-La-Tex Regional Export & Technology Center

Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs

Consular Corps of New Orleans

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana

International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans

International Trade Council/Red River Region

Le Centre International de Lafayette

Louisiana District Export Council

Louisiana International Trade Center/SBDC

Louisiana Tax Free Shopping

Louisiana Technology Council

Propeller Club, Port of New Orleans

World Affairs Council of New Orleans

World Trade Club of Greater New Orleans

Cost: $45 for members of the sponsoring organizations and companies.  $55 for non-members.

If you are a WTC member, the registration fee can be charged to your account number noted on the registration form. 

All registrations on this site are done over a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) line.

Click here for driving directions to the WTC.