Welcome to the Americas Competitiveness
Forum IV

In a difficult global economic environment, it is more important than ever for countries to put into place strong fundamentals underpinning competitiveness and economic development. The Americas Competitiveness Forum has, for the past 3 years, played a facilitating role in this process by providing a unique opportunity to understand the state of competitiveness in the region and to work on concrete strategies to enhance it.

The Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) is the most relevant event for leaders from the 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere to exchange knowledge on the issues and challenges facing the world today. During the two-day Forum, business leaders and policy makers will discuss the key factors enabling national economies to achieve sustained economic growth and long-term prosperity. Our overall goal is to provide a platform for dialogue and tools to identify obstacles to improved competitiveness, thus stimulating discussion on strategies to overcome them.

I look forward to continuing this dialogue and to welcoming you to Atlanta in November 2010.

With warmest personal regards,

Kasim Reed
Mayor, City of Atlanta
Chair, Board of Trustees, CIFAL Atlanta

Please join me at the fourth annual Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF IV) in Atlanta, Georgia, from November 14-16, 2010.

The increasing interconnectedness of the Western Hemisphere has made it easier for us to do business, exchange ideas, and share knowledge in a cooperative effort to improve the standard of living for millions of people. But this economic and social integration has brought challenges as well. We have been driven to change the way we do business – to be more innovative and competitive.

This year ACF IV will highlight the successes of our region’s businesses and governments during this period of economic uncertainty. We will focus on those best practices and most useful ideas that have improved competitiveness so that our countries and businesses may learn and grow.

At the ACF, all participants have a chance to make a contribution and to learn how to improve the way we do business in the Americas. This year, we have selected four key topics: green technologies; education and workforce development; entrepreneurship and small business development; and trade facilitation, border clearance, and supply chain logistics. In addition to plenary sessions and breakout panels, participants may choose from a variety of additional ACF IV events and services, including a meeting of the Inter-American Competitiveness Network, market opportunity sessions, export counseling sessions, business-to-government meetings, and business-to-business meetings.

The ACF is truly a hemispheric event.  Following upon the great successes of the previous forums in Atlanta and in Santiago, Chile, I hope you will help carry on this important discussion to improve competiveness and innovation and increase prosperity and sustainability for every citizen of the Americas. I look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Gary Locke
U.S. Secretary of Commerce