Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon advocates for economic openness and democracy in Latin America

In his opening speech at CAF's XVIII Conference, former Mexican President Felipe Calderon called for free trade, economic openness, rule of law, and economic competitiveness. Calderon was the main speaker in this two day conference that started on September 3rd in Washington, DC.

More than one thousand opinion, political, and entrepreneurial leaders and expert analysts from Latin America took part in this annual event to analyze the challenges and economic and political trends in the region. The annual event is organized by CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, the Inter-American Dialogue and the Organization of American States (OAS).

Calderon pointed out that "There is a battle in Latin America between the old and the new", while at the same time stating that the future of the region will be dictated by open economies, private investments, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. He added the the old protectionist, nationalistic, and authoritarian models are a failed proposal. 

Calderon, who was the President of Mexico from 2006 to 2012, referred to the so called "Latin America's Decade" as a concept which did not materialize due to the fall in the global demand for raw materials, and the dependence that countries in the region have had on them in past years. "If Latin America's future is to change direction, the region must focus less on raw materials and more on products with value added", he stated. 

Calderon concluded his one hour speech pointing out that if the countries bet on competitive economies, as Mexico and others have done, "there will be a real Latin American decade". 

The subject of competitive economies has been supported by CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, a multinational regional financing organization which promotes the concept of "productive transformation" of the  Latin American economies. This concept is based on the development of infrastructure, education, innovation, and development of the private sector, to improve the competitiveness of the Latin American economies within a global framework.

CAF's Conference has consolidated as one of the most important meetings for analysts and experts on Latin American affairs.

Enrique Garcia, CAF's Executive President, highlighted the challenges faced by Latin America with respect to development and CAF's vision to address it, "the region must have an agenda that reconciles the macroeconomic stability objectives, without which it is impossible to grow, but it has to look for greater, sustained, and better quality growth which is more efficient, more productive, and which moves from raw materials to products with greater value added" he added. 

Michael Shifter, President of Inter-American Dialogue, highlighted the diversity of issues discussed this and previous years as well as the level of the participants. He pointed out that CAF is always "at the vanguard of the issues that affect the region". 

At the same time, Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the Organization of American States, stated that the countries of the region must work together to prosper. 

The XVIII CAF Conference also addresses issues of hemispheric interest, such as the challenges of Cuba, the coming presidential elections in Latin America, and the most recent political developments, the future of the energy sector, the social impact of innovation, and the increasing influence of women in decision making in the countries of the region.