“Catalyzing Regional Infrastructure Competitiveness”

The South American Integration Leadership Forum will take place in Cartagena, Colombia immediately following IIRSA Annual Meeting. The Forum is organized by CG/LA Infrastructure in coordination with Colombia’s Ministry of Planning (DNP), IIRSA, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and FONPLATA. The Forum signals the first occasion that IIRSA National Coordinators, public-sector officials focused on infrastructure, and high-level representatives from multilateral development banks will meet with executives from the financial, Engineering & Construction, equipment and technology and services sectors. These leaders will meet to promote the development of South America and to create important business opportunities in the region.

25 projects will be presented at the Forum, with a total project value of over US$50 billion, and covering the sectors of Ports & Logistics, Airport & Transportation, Railroads, Highways, and Energy.  All project presenters, keynote speakers and Forum sponsors will be available for pre-scheduled private meetings through our Online Private Meeting Manager, which will be activated on November 17, 2008.

Infrastructure is a long-term, strategic invesment that creates opportunities for job creation, business creation and competitiveness for 20-30 years. By addressing the infrastructure challenges and presenting a convincing regional face to the world - which includes ensuring that the benefits of world-class infrastructure are distributed to all, building a reliable energy matrix, and creating public sector capacity to efficiently and imaginatively lead --Latin America's glass will be more than half full.