For Immediate Release, August 9, 2000
Contact: Gwenda Bond or Channell Barbour (502)564-2611

Governor Announces Conference on Latin America

Frankfort, Ky. – Governor Paul Patton announced today that the Governor’s Conference on Latin America will be held this January 8-10 at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

The conference will be all-encompassing, exploring new opportunities for Kentucky in Mexico, Central and South America in business, agriculture, travel and tourism, academia, culture and local government.

Governor Patton said, “The Latin American market is one of the fastest-growing in the world, and it is vital that we begin to explore the new opportunities available to the Commonwealth in this region. This conference will allow us to bring together Kentuckians with representatives from all segments of Latin American industry to discuss the multitude of opportunities available to our state.”

The Governor’s Executive Cabinet Secretary Crit Luallen will speak about the conference today at noon at the Lexington Radisson at the World Trade Day luncheon.

At the conference, high-level speakers and guests from the United States and Latin America will focus on opportunities for Kentuckians within this growing marketplace. Conference organizers hope to attract over 800 participants, as well as foreign dignitaries from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile and other regions in Latin America. Breakout sessions will be featured focusing on the identified areas of opportunity. Sessions designed for local communities and governments are also being developed to increase awareness of international opportunities at the local level.  The conference will host a trade show, where trade commissions, embassies, consulates, service providers, and others can share information with conference participants.

Throughout the 1990s, Latin American markets for Kentucky goods and services grew exponentially, with exports to Brazil increasing 847 percent, to Argentina 417 percent, and to Chile 172 percent. Brazil and Mexico are among Kentucky’s top ten trading partners. A proposed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas has the potential to create even more opportunities in the region for the Commonwealth.

The program for the Governor’s Conference on Latin America is under development, and details will be released as they develop. Starting Thursday, Aug. 10, developments will be available on the Web at http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/gov/ltamconf.htm.

Registration for the conference will be $150 per person, including meals. A student rate of $75 is also available. Booth space for the trade show will be $150, and a dinner only registration can be purchased for $50. For registration or sponsorship information, contact Mary Beth Cordy at the Cabinet for Economic Development at (502)564-7670 or 1(800)626-2930.