Western Hemisphere Leaders Discuss Economic, Social Opportunities
Washington - Government ministers from 14 Western Hemisphere nations gathered in Costa Rica March 4 to promote the conditions that will provide their citizens the economic and social opportunities necessary for regional and national stability.
The San Jose meeting is the third ministerial meeting held since the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas initiative was created in late 2008 to link nations from Central and North and South America that are committed to advancing democracy and open markets while promoting inclusive growth, prosperity and social justice.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urged the ministers to close the economic gaps that exist for the farmers, craftspeople and small business owners most often excluded from financial services and access to global markets. And she promoted new efforts to reach marginalized populations and women to give them a chance through economic progress.
As the number of young people across the hemisphere rises, numbers of schools to educate them and jobs to provide them opportunities must rise as well, Clinton said ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/March/20100305120745xjsnommis0.7623865.html ).
"The Americas ... are one of the world's most dynamic and diverse regions, with a strong economic base that is evident in the multitude of creative solutions already at work in our countries," she told the ministerial meeting. "I've traveled throughout this hemisphere for 17 years now, and I meet people with smart ideas, a great work ethic and a strong entrepreneurial spirit everywhere. They just need the chance to show what they can do, to compete in a business environment that is fair and secure."
Clinton said the United States has had considerable success with the creation of small-business development centers where people get information and advice about starting businesses. While some of the Pathways member nations have adopted similar programs, Clinton said the United States wants to share it with others through exchange visits.
To help women entrepreneurs across the hemisphere, the United States recently hosted a conference for women from the Americas and launched a network ( http://www.america.gov/st/americas-english/2009/October/20091005151949lsreprac0.7795679.html ) to connect women just starting out with experienced women business leaders, Clinton said.
One area that has stymied effective trade among nations in the hemisphere, she said, is customs procedures that need to be modernized. Clinton proposed that Pathways nations agree to reduce logistics delays and costs by 5 percent, based on a similar practice developed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
"Efficient and effective customs practices are critical to attracting foreign investment and succeeding in global markets," she said.
The United States also is committed to supporting the expansion of English language instruction centers and an investment fund to upgrade technology, expand libraries and cultural programs, and build science and innovation centers, Clinton said. In addition, the United States is working to help small and medium-sized businesses to decrease the amount of water, energy and raw materials they use, protect natural resources, cut carbon dioxide emissions and save costs, she said.
The United States is also committed to working with its Pathways partners in modernizing laws that govern lending so that small and medium-sized businesses can use assets other than real estate as collateral for loans and can borrow larger amounts of capital at lower interest rates with longer repayment periods, Clinton said.
Clinton urged Pathways nations to help Haiti rebuild its textile and apparel factories to speed its immediate recovery efforts and stimulate future growth.
Members of the two-year-old Pathways to Prosperity initiative include Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, the United States and Uruguay.
Clinton is nearing the end of a weeklong trip to Latin America, having already visited Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Brazil. She concludes her trip March 5 in Guatemala for meetings with Central American leaders and to discuss restoring full relations with Honduras after a presidential election ( http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2009/November/20091123125743esnamfuak0.660412.html ) in November 2009 ended a political crisis there.
