President Leonel Fernández will travel to Puerto Rico on Sunday, 29 August to attend the 64th Southern Governors’ Association Annual Meeting and Central American to be held August 30 -September 1, at the Hyatt Regency Cerromar Beach Resort in Dorado, Puerto Rico. During the event a Trade Workshop is scheduled where talks on trade, investment, transport, infrastructure and tourism issues regarding the region will be given. Upon making the announcement, press information director Adriano Tejada said that the forum will present the opportunity for President Leonel Fernández to meet with colleagues from Central America. This meeting is important given the impasse in the discussion leading to the finalizing of the free trade agreement between the DR and Central America after Costa Rica changed the rules requesting that the DR negotiate individually with each Central American country. Southern Governors" Association is the oldest and historically the largest of the regional governors’ associations in the United States. Founded in 1934, leaders meet to exchange ideas, explore common issues and address pressing problems and promote regional accomplishments. Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia. The meeting is chaired by Puerto Rican Governor Pedro Rosselló. The 64th annual meeting of the Southern Governors’ Association meeting is promoted as a conference that will feature opportunities for southern states and businesses to look south to the markets of Latin America for their economic future. Attending businessmen and governors can meet with leaders from Latin American countries as well as with leaders in our own country to explore these and other issues of regional interest. The meeting will also feature sessions with the Southern Growth Policies Board, the Southern Technology Council and the Southern States Energy Board. Cesar Gaviria, Secretary General of the Organization of American States, and Haroldo Rodas, Secretary General of the Central American Economic Integration System (SIECA) will also be participating.
