Experts to analyze development of cities and regions in Cordoba, Argentina

The Andean Development Corporation, together with the government of Cordoba province, Cordoba Provincial Strategic Planning Council COPEC, and the Cordoba Technological Linkage Unit - UVITEC - (Cordoba Stock Exchange BCC, Cordoba Chamber of Foreign Trade CaCEC, Cordoba Industrial Union UIC) will hold the International Meeting on Competitiveness: Local economic development and competitiveness: global cities and regions." National and provincial officials and authorities have been invited to the event, along with experts, business leaders and representatives of labor unions and social sectors from Argentina and abroad.

The event will be opened by CAF President & CEO Enrique García and Cordoba Provincial Governor Juan Schiaretti on November 5 in the city of Cordoba.

Cordoba's experience will be discussed by Manuel San Pedro, president of UVITEC, and Mario Barra, president of the Cordoba Technology Cluster. The former will speak on innovation in the agro-food complex, while the latter on the experience of the software cluster.

The presentation of local and international cases by high level representatives will illustrate how some cities have made important changes which raise their levels of development and competitiveness. The speakers are Gregory Clark from the Cass Business School of London; Pier Carlo Sola on the experience of the Digital Port of Recife in Brazil; Amaia Bernaras on the case of the Basque country; Ana Molero on the experience of Barcelona, Spain; and Virgilio Barco on Bogota, Colombia.

In addition Germán Ríos, CAF public policy director, and Joaquín Vial, chief economist of BBVA for South America, will examine support for competitiveness in Latin America, while Ricardo Haussman, professor at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, will discuss the role and importance of the future of competitiveness: how to find new sectors?

The event will be closed by Maria Angela Holguin, CAF director representative in Argentina, and Roberto Hugo Avalle, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Labor of Cordoba province.

In its commitment to the development of its 17 shareholder countries, CAF regards competitiveness as a fundamental factor for achieving equity, stability and growth in the region. For this reason, since 1999 it has been promoting its Competitiveness Support Program (PAC) which has backed projects in areas such as strengthening clusters with export potential, improving the business and investment climate, adoption of new technologies, and strengthening institutions which promote competitiveness. CAF also holds an annual international event where experts debate competitiveness issues.

To receive information on this event, contact the following address pac@caf.com and visit www.caf.com/pac