The Center for Hemispheric Policy at the University of Miami presents the "Latin America: Economic, Business, and Trade Forecast" conference.  The program will examine the current economic climate, the opportunities and risks of doing business in Latin American countries and the economic outlook for 2008. The event will consist of 3 panels: the first discussing Latin America's economic outlook in the context of global economic developments, the second panel focusing on Brazil and Mexico, and the last analyzing the business climate in LatAm.

Speakers include:

• Rafael de la Fuente, Chief Economist, Latin American Research, BNP Paribas, New York
• Marcelo Giugale, Director for Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction, Latin America and Caribbean Region, World Bank, Washington, D.C.
• Jerry Haar, Associate Director, Knight Ridder Center for Excellence in Management, Florida International University
• Tim Kearney, Managing Director and Senior Global Economist, Equity Research, Bear Stearns & Co Inc., New York
• Ian McCluskey, Publisher, WorldCity Business, Miami
• John Price, President, InfoAmericas, Miami  - will be part of the 3rd panel, discussing business climate in Latin America.
• Thomas Travis, Attorney at Law, Sandler, Travis and Rosenberg, P.A., Miami
• Alberto Trejos, Professor, Department of Economics, INCAE Business School, Costa Rica and Former Minister of Trade of Costa Rica
• John Welch, Senior vice President, Sovereign Strategy, Lehman Brothers, New York