Brazil hosts World Economic Forum on Latin America
Over 500 leaders from more than 35 countries are converging on Rio de Janeiro today for the World Economic Forum on Latin America, which aims to give an insight into how the region is responding to the financial downturn.
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is opening the meeting, which is being co-hosted by the country and state governments and the APEX-Brasil Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.
"We are aware of the importance of having Brazil at the centre of the debate on the global economic crisis and its implications for Latin America," says Alessandro Teixeira, president of APEX-Brasil.
Emilio Lozoya Austin, director and head of Latin America at the World Economic Forum, says the meeting is taking place at a "crucial time" for the region, coming shortly after the London G20 summit.
President Lula da Silva said the gathering in the UK capital earlier this month was a success for the South American country, asserting that it was the first meeting in which "we weren’t treated as if we didn’t understand anything".
