UK-Paraguay Trade & Investment Forum 2014
On November 6th, at The Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London, Developing Markets Associates (DMA) in association with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Government of the Republic of Paraguay hosted the UK-Paraguay Trade & Investment Forum 2014. This highly acclaimed event was attended by over 300 delegates including key stakeholders and high level representatives from both the public and private sectors.
Opening addresses were given by Haydon Warren-Gash, Director, Developing Markets Associates; HE Miguel A. Solano-López C, Paraguayan Ambassador to the UK; and The Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP, Minister, FCO. These were followed by a video address from HE President Horacio Cartes, President of Paraguay and the keynote address from Hon Eladio Loizaga, Minister of Foreign Relations – all of which set an excellent tone for the day.
The opening session, chaired by Baroness Hooper, Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary British-Latin America Group, provided an overview of the investment climate in Paraguay and included presentations from Hon Germán Rojas, Minister of Finance; Hon Gustavo Leite, Minister of Industry & Commerce; Carlos Fernández Valdovinos, Governor, Central Bank of Paraguay; and Sebastien Lahaie, Chief Executive, Abbeyfield Group.
The following two sessions provided an overview of investment opportunities in Energy & Renewables and Infrastructure. These sessions were chaired by HMA Dr Jeremy Hobbs, British Ambassador to Paraguay and Roger Martin, Director, Developing Markets Associates respectively. The attendees were treated to presentations from Guillermo Alcaráz, Director, Ministry of Public Works and Communications; John Hamilton, Chief Executive, President Energy; John Wardle, Chief Executive, Amerisur Resources; Hon Ramón Jiménez Gaona, Minister of Public Works & Communications; Xavier Rocoplan, Executive Vice President, Millicom Group; and Carlos Vasconsellos, Partner, Ferrere Abogados.
The fourth and final session provided an overview of the Agriculture and Tourism sectors and was chaired by Haydon Warren-Gash, Director, Developing Markets Associates. Presentations were given by Hon Jorge Gattini, Minister of Agriculture & Livestock; Hon Marcela Bacigalupo, Executive Secretary Minister of the National Secretariat of Tourism (SENATUR); German Ruiz, President, Rural Association of Paraguay; and Roger Wilson, Senior Conservationist, World Land Trust.
Closing remarks were given by Hon Eladio Loizaga, Minister of Foreign Relations before guests were invited to take part in a Gala Reception.
Programme of the Day
UK-Paraguay Trade & Investment Forum 2014
Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane London
8.15am-9.15am Registration & Refreshments
9.15am-9.30am: Welcome Addresses and Opening Comments
• Haydon Warren-Gash, Director, Developing Markets Associates
• HE Miguel A. Solano-López C., Paraguayan Ambassador to the UK
• The Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP, Minister, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
9.30am-9.45am: Video Address and Keynote Speech
• HE President Horacio Cartes, President of Paraguay
• Hon Eladio Loizaga, Minister of Foreign Relations
9.45am-11am: Session 1 – Economic Outlook, Trade & Investment Overview
Chair: Baroness Hooper, Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary British-Latin America Group
• Hon Germán Rojas, Minister of Finance
• Hon Gustavo Leite, Minister of Industry & Commerce
• Carlos Fernández Valdovinos, Governor, Central Bank
• Sebastien Lahaie, Chief Executive, Abbeyfield Group
Q&A Session
11.00am-11.30am: Refreshments Break
11.30am-12.45pm: Session 2 – Investing in Energy & Renewables
Chair: HMA Dr Jeremy Hobbs, British Ambassador to Paraguay
• Guillermo Alcaráz, Director, Ministry of Public Works and Communications
• John Hamilton, Chief Executive, President Energy
• John Wardle, Chief Executive, Amerisur Resources
Q&A Session
12.45pm-1.45pm: Networking Lunch
1:45pm-3.15pm: Session 3 – Investing in Infrastructure Development
Chair: Roger Martin, Director, Developing Markets Associates
• Hon Ramón Jiménez Gaona, Minister of Public Works & Communications
• Xavier Rocoplan, Executive Vice President, Millicom Group
• Carlos Vasconsellos, Partner, Ferrere Abogados
Q&A Session
3.15pm-3.45pm: Refreshments Break
3.45pm-5.00pm: Session 4 – Opportunities in Agriculture and Tourism
Chair: Haydon Warren-Gash, Director, Developing Markets Associates
• Hon Jorge Gattini, Minister of Agriculture & Livestock
• Hon Marcela Bacigalupo, Executive Secretary Minister of the National Secretariat of Tourism (SENATUR)
• German Ruiz, President, Rural Association of Paraguay
• Roger Wilson, Senior Conservationist, World Land Trust
Q&A Session
5.00pm-5.15pm: Closing Remarks
Hon Eladio Loizaga, Minister of Foreign Relations
Gala Reception