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ENTREPRENEURIAL
SUMMIT
VI
FATHERS AND SONS MEETING
Panama City, Panama - February 2008
Panama
City was the site of the annual meeting of the most important
and successful businessmen in Latin America. Sands bordering
an emerald-green sea and an incredible view over the Pacific
Ocean formed the ideal backdrop of the InterContinental
Playa Bonita, venue of the VI Fathers and Sons Meeting.
Panama hosts a myriad of cultures from distinct nations
that have discovered there great opportunities and an excellent
quality of life. It is one of the most modern cities in
the region and the principal banking and financial center
in Latin America.
On Monday, February 25, the guests of the great event took
part in a dinner held outdoors in the Ruins of Old Panama
and offered by President Martin Torrijos and Vice-President
and Chancellor Samuel Lewis, in which they shared and exchanged
opinions regarding how to improve the living standards of
those existing below the poverty line in Latin America.
On Tuesday, February 26, the workday was marked by the full
participation of young businessmen of Central America and
Brazil who reported on the progress of meetings and projects
realized since the previous meeting in Santiago de Chile.
In their final assessment, the young entrepreneurs from
Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela and other
countries of Central and South America, emphasized the importance
of efforts in the social sphere.
In the afternoon session, canal administrator, Alberto Aleman
Z., and participants, took part in a forum regarding the
operation of the Canal and projects for its expansion, a
work estimated at US$5,250,000,000, given the great significance
of the Panama Canal’s strategic geographic location
and indispensable transit point for the global economy.
On the third day, the Colombian singer Shakira took part,
discussing her activities in the realm of social responsibility.
Following on, Mexican Carlos Slim, one of the initiators
of the annual meeting, presented the challenges facing Latin
America and the activities realized by the members of the
Summit. In the afternoon session, the former presidents
of Honduras, Ricardo Maduro; El Salvador, Francisco Flores;
and Bolivia, Jorge Quiroga, took part in a panel regarding
Geo-Politics, with former Prime Minister of Spain, Felipe
Gonzalez, as moderator.
That was the final activity in which the principal objective
was the participation of the young people and the analysis
of how to organize and bring about intermediate meetings
in order to evaluate and share the experiences obtained
in each one of the countries with regard to the area of
social challenges specific to their generation.
PROFILE OF SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS
FELIPE BOSCH
Felipe Bosch is a businessman with Multinversiones Corporation,
which employs around 30,000 people in Central America, the
United States, and the Dominican Republic. He is said to
be one of the potential candidates for the Presidency of
the Panama Republic, an assertion which he neither confirms
nor denies: “For Felipe Bosch, the political sphere
is still very new and he needs many more years of experience”,
he says.
Currently, he is president of the Strategic Committee for
Multinversiones and during 1998 and 1999, he was vice-president
of the Chamber of Industry. He was also president of the
Chamber in 2000 and 2001 and in the last year presided over
the Coordinating Committee for Agricultural, Commercial
and Financial Associations (CACIF).
CARLOS
PELLAS
Since the beginning of the 1980s, he has presided over Grupo
Pellas: a conglomerate of over more than 50 businesses,
although some 20 of them can be considered of paramount
importance and require the most analysis.
Among the most important companies are: in the financial
sector, BAC International Bank, with branches in all Central
America and BAC Florida Bank, in South Florida (USA); in
alcoholic beverages, Ron Flor de Caña; in transport,
Casa Pellas, which also represents Toyota in Nicaragua;
in technology, as partner, with 40%, of GBM, with full representation
of IBM in Central America and the Dominican Republic; in
entertainment, ESTESA, (40%) the leading cable television
in Nicaragua; as Internet provider, Cablenet; as sugar and
energy producer, Nicaragua Sugar Estates; y also as one
of the largest citrus-producing estates in the world.
FERNANDO POMA
Fernando Poma is General Director of Real Hotels & Resorts.
He has been responsible for the growth of hotels of the
group, beginning with 9 hotels in 2001 when he took charge,
and currently numbering 21. He obtained a Masters in Business
Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, after
graduating with a degree in Hotel Administration from the
University of Cornell. Real Hotels & Resorts has operation
in 10 countries and receives over 325,000 guests a year.
In 2008, the group plans to operate over 25 hotels.
“Central America can become an oasis in the Americas.
We are of the view that with this plan we are going to distinguish
ourselves. We are not tied to any brand; we analyze what
is the best for each project that we do”.
ALBERTO MOTTA
Businessman Alberto C. Motta has contributed in large part
to the economic and social development of the country via
the creation and management of large, successful businesses
that have generated a significant amount of employment and
opportunities for Panamanians. He has also made his presence
felt through support for the development of innumerable
social works via his effective participation in organizations
with social impact, allowing Panamanians with scant resources
to improve their health and education conditions, which
translates into improved quality of life.
In particular, Motta manifests his support of and commitment
to the Technological University of Panama, contributing
significantly to aviation programs administered by the Faculty
of Mechanical Engineering, since initiating negotiations
with the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and the Panamanian
Aviation Company, COPA.
MARTÍN TORRIJOS ESPINO
PRESIDENTE CONSTITUCIONAL DE LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ
Martín Torrijos Espino was born in the capital, 44
years ago on July 18, 1963, and is married to Vivian Fernandez
de Torrijos, with whom he has three children: Daniela Maria,
Martin Omar y Nicolas Antonio.
After finishing his primary studies in Panama City, he obtained
degrees in Economics and Political Sciences from the prestigious
Texas A&M University. Before beginning his political
career, he was an economic analyst for international firms
involved in communications, construction, agro-exports and
the maritime industry. At the beginning of the 90s, he assumed
leadership of the youth wing of the Democratic Revolutionary
Party (PRD) and between 1994 and the middle of 1999, he
carried out the role of Vice-minister of Government and
Justice, a position in which he realized distinguished efforts
in areas related to national security, civil aviation, public
transport, telecommunications and the modernization of the
national penitentiary system. For the last, he received
recognition from the United Nations Organization and the
Government of Spain.
He was sworn in as President of the Republic on September
1, 2004, by then president of the National Assembly of Representatives
(National Congress), Jerry Wilson Navarro.
SHAKIRA
During her years in music, Shakira has also dedicated time
to helping others. One of these efforts is reflected in
the foundation created by the singer in Colombia in 1995
called Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet) which aims to help children
in Colombia and third world countries. Thanks to her efforts
through this foundation, the Colombian singer was chosen
by UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador. Shakira has raised the
foundation to such a degree that the Spanish car manufacturer,
SEAT, has united with Shakira in creating a car designed
by her and bearing the name Pies Descalzos which is to be
auctioned in 2007 among the many Europeans with significant
donations to the foundation. This year the Colombian singer
also took part in the Clinton Initiative, whereby she donated
– via the Alas Foundation – more than 40 million
dollars to the people of Peru and Nicaragua for events taking
place in both those countries and 5 million dollars more
for educational projects in Latin America. Moreover, on
March 29, 2008, she will take place in benefit concerts
for the Alas Foundation, of which she is a member and key
promoter.
Pies Descalzos Foundation
The aim of this organization, created by Shakira in 1995,
is to change the conditions of education, nutrition, and
coexistence of the thousands of children displaced by violence,
and living in highly vulnerable conditions due to the internal
conflicts experienced by Colombia.
CARLOS SLIM
Since the 1980s he has distinguished himself as an entrepreneur
in myriad areas of industry, real estate and business. In
1982, Carlos Slim and his Carso Group took up active and
intense investment, such that during this period they brought
about diverse investment and acquisitions among which Cigatam
was the first and most significant. Given its cash flow,
it allowed the Group to take advantage of opportunities
as they presented themselves, and amplifying the range of
purchases of important companies, including: Hulera Centenario,
Bimex, Reynolds Aluminio. A little later, the purchase of
Seguros de Mexico was also effected, giving form to Grupo
Financiero Inbursa. Towards 1985 acquired control of Artes
Gráficas Unidas, Fábricas de Papel Loreto
and Peña Pobre, as well as the majority of Sanborns
and its affiliate, Dennys.
In 1990, he acquired Telmex, in association with SBC and
France Telecom, and initiated a new stage in his entrepreneurial
development in a globally strategic sector. Over the course
of 16 years, Telmex has developed a world-class technological
platform that has allowed it to optimize processes and to
strengthen its corporate culture. América Móvil
is a fine example of the creation of value for investors.
From 1996 it was a world pioneer and innovator of prepaid
cellular phone systems, which allowed Radiomóvil
Dipsa (TELCEL) with only 35,000 clients when it privatized
(1990) to go beyond 107 million cellular subscribers in
Latin America by the third trimester of 2006.
Carlos Slim has discontinued most of his business consulting
and currently carries out the role of President of the Board
of Administration for the Promotion of Development and Employment
in Latin America (IDEAL); President of the Telmex Foundation,
A.C.; President of the Carso Foundation; President of the
Executive Committee of the Consultative Board for the Restoration
of the Historic Center, as well as President of the Historical
Center Foundation.
ALVARO NOBOA
Alvaro
Noboa Pontón was born in Guayaquil, on November 21,
1950 to Luis Noboa Naranjo (deceased) and Isabel Pontón
Avila (deceased).
His primary education was at La Salle School in Guayaquil,
while his secondary education took place at Le Rosey in
Switzerland; he was a top student at both places. He graduated
as a lawyer from the University of Guayaquil, and carried
out advanced studies in administration at the American Management
Association in New York.
He speaks fluent Spanish, English and French.
Married to Dr. Anabella Azin, he has four children: Daniel,
John Sebastian, Santiago y Carla.
In 1997 he acquired the stock and control of his father’s
companies and, in Ecuador as well as throughout the world
– Europe, Japan, New Zealand, the USA and Argentina
– Noboa directs over 110 companies founded through
his own initiative.
In 1996 he presided over the Monetary Board of Ecuador and,
in little more than 6 months, achieved the highest monetary
reserves in the country’s history with an amount never
seen before, of more than 2 billion dollars.
He was also the founding President of the Real Estate Brokers
Association, of which he is lifelong Honorary President.
He is founder of the “New Humanity Crusade”,
Foundation of Community Action of the People, developing,
through his own funds and businesses, important social work
in education, health, employment and assistance to vulnerable
groups for over 26 years.
Representing his party, he has been a candidate for the
Presidency of the Republic on three occasions – 1998,
2002 and 2006 – obtaining the support of millions
of Ecuadorians who opted for change through their vote,
and reaching the run-offs in all three occasions for his
outstanding political participation.
On September 30, 2007, Alvaro Nooa was elected to the National
Assembly.
FELIPE GONZALEZ MARQUEZ
Spanish politician (Seville, 1942 -). Coming from a modest
family, he received a Law Degree (1966) from the University
of Seville, the city in which he worked for some time as
a labor lawyer. In 1964, he became a member of the Spanish
Socialists Worker’s Party, and took part in the clandestine
fight against the dictatorship of Franco (political persecution
prompted him to take on an assumed identity, Isidoro). He
rose rapidly in the party, acceding to the Executive Committee
in 1970. In 1979 he took further steps in the modernization
of the PSOE, forcing its official abandonment of Marxist
ideology via his resignation as General Secretary. A special
congress concluded in admitting his more moderate proposals
and granting him total control over the party (which had
gained reinforcements the previous year through the absorption
of the Popular Socialist Party of Tierno Galvan).
GUSTAVO
CISNERO
Gustavo Cisneros Rendiles, 56 years old, is the wealthiest
man in South America. At the end of 2001, Kofi Annan, Secretary-General
to the United Nations, made him "active member of the
working party for the Information and Communication Technologies
Division of the United Nations (ICT)”. He also belongs
to the directorate of the American Society of Arts of the
United States and is one of the hosts of Global Business
Dialogue, a format for “thinking” of all kinds
of global business futures. He flies his own plane and spends
many weekends in the Dominican Republic, where he owns innumerable
investments. His wife, Patricia Phelps – also of one
of Venezuela’s wealthiest traditional families –
is typically named “Best Dressed Woman of the Year".
Cisneros is an international consultant for The Americas
Society, "a non-profit organization dedicated to informing
United States citizens of the societies and cultures of
the Western Hemisphere”. In the Americas Society,
he shares a role with other Latin America, such as Chileans,
Agustín Ewards, Alvaro Saieh, Fernando Léniz,
and Edgardo Boenninger; Venezuelan, Eugenio A. Mendoza –
of the second wealthiest family of that country and third
in the continent; the Brazilian, José Ermírio
de Moraes, of the fourth Latin American family; the Argentine
multi-millionaire, Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat, the North
American, David Rockefeller, etcétera.
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