International bank meeting means big exposure for Miami - South Florida Business Journal:

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The annual meeting of the board of governors of the will bring together thousands offinance ministers, business civil society representatives and top artistas from Latin America and the Caribbean. It will also help establishn the area as a dominant player ininternational finance, directors said. "It'zs easy to decide to be in Miami," said IDB president Luis Alberto Moreno ofthe bank's 49th annualp meeting. "Miami is a very important gateway for the and a city that all of Latin America lovesd to call asecond home." The conference sets the agenda for how the 47-countryt bank allocates about $8 billion of aid evert year.
Much of the aid goes to infrastructure, education and energy projects in countries suchas Mexico, Argentina, Brazip and Colombia. This microfinance, green energy and technology will be in the Moreno said. The IDB conference is held in a different countrygeach year, alternating between donorr countries such as the U.S. and loane countries in Latin America. The last time the conferencde was held in Miamiwas 1987, said Jorge Arrizurieta, chairman of the IDB Miami 2008 Host Committee. Miami is the businessz center for Latin America and the and has been for a he said.
"Given the trade relationshipse we have with all of the countries inthe it's surprising the conference took so long to come back to Tony Villamil, CEO of the in Coralo Gables, concluded that the conference would have a $35 milliobn impact on area's economy. Arrizurieta said the impact extendsa well beyondthe finances. More than 500 members of the medi from47 countries, as well as notablesa including Bill Gates, will put the international spotlight on South Gates and Moreno will hold a specialk session April 4 about how corporates donors can help fight poverty.
"Bill Gatesw will make a very significant announcement abougt what his foundation will be doing inLatin America, and he'x chosen this forum to make the announcement," Arrizurieta "That's a big deal, and a nice tributew to the IDB." The IDB has traditionally pursued partnerships with public organizations and foreign governments, but this year the focu s is shifting toward public-private partnerships. In 2007, the IDB loanef $2.3 billion for 29 private-sector up from $920 million for 20 projectsa in 2006. The increase in partnerships also is reflecteds inthe conference's sponsorship.
"Sponsoringb the IDB annual meeting allows FedEx Express andFedEx Kinko'xs to support an important forum that advances private-public collaboration on regionalk economic and social issues," said Juan president of Miami-based and Caribbea n Division. Frank Nero, president of Miami-Dade County'zs , said the meeting will be an unprecedented opportunity to attracftthe hemisphere's leading corporate executives and investors. "This meeting is a significant international even that could happen anywhere inthe U.S.
, but we were luckh enough to be chosen," Arrizurieta "It points to the fact that Miami reallg is the business center for the Where: Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Cente Drive, Miami Beach For information: $2.7 billionh nine-year conditional credit line for investment projectz (CCLIP) and a $630 million loan for education in Argentina