I would like to take this opportunity to continue our reflections on the future of North America and the commitments we should assume as a business community convinced of a common destiny for our Region.

The integration process triggered by the North American Free Trade Agreement has gone beyond commerce and business by expanding its reach to demographic, social, cultural and environmental aspects, among others. Notwithstanding, NAFTA’s original planning mostly considered the economic side and no formal agenda was established to deal with the other no-less important integration subjects.

Nowadays, the priorities and attention of our governments are concentrated on subjects such as war, security, internal political affairs and elections, among others. The discussions on the construction and definition of a much needed concept of a common future for our Continent after NAFTA have been relegated to a second tier of importance due to the urgent and unavoidable response demanded by other unexpected events such as terror threats and attacks, Iraq, the Middle East and the unprecedented pre-campaigning for the 2006 Mexico presidential elections. It is the time for us, as a civil society committed to the construction of common destiny for North America to demand the attention of our governments and partner with other organizations and the private sector to continue working on a more equitable and comprehensive integration of North America.

We, the Northeast Chapter of the United States – Mexico Chamber of Commerce, are fully committed with these goals and we will continue working towards them. We will promote open forums and discussions with distinguished business people, academics and government officials about how to construct a better and more solid North America.

I would like to remind you that as a closing event for the summer season we will have our traditional Gala Dinner to celebrate the Mexican Independence Day. Do not forget to save the date and join us the coming September 10, for this important event.

I invite you to enjoy this summer season and, as always, I hope for your business and personal success.

Best regards,

Eduardo Ramos-Gómez
President

Mexico’s Macroeconomic Perspectives: 2004-2006
By Alfredo Coutiño, Director, Center for Economic Forecasting of Mexico
During the last three years "stagnation and stability" characterized the Mexican economy. The economy grew 1.3% in 2003, 0.9% in 2002, and –0.2% in 2001. The poor economic performance imposed significant consequences on unemployment and social well-being. The discipline of monetary and fiscal policy brought inflation down, the country stayed relatively attractive to foreign investors, and the current account deficit adjusted downward. However, the lack of structural reforms and the absence of political leadership kept the economy stagnant and disappointed the markets.
After the first three years of continued stabilization in the Fox administration, macroeconomic stability (by itself) seemed to be unable to stimulate productive investment and growth, as expected by the authorities. Macroeconomic stability has been necessary but not sufficient to generate economic growth in Mexico. A second round of structural reforms and domestic policies to stimulate savings and investment in order to propel economic grow have been missing in the first half of the Fox Administration. As a result, the investment as a ratio of GDP decreased by four percentage points in the last three years, falling from a rate of 23.8% in 2000 to 19.8% in 2003. Thus, the contraction of productive investment is one of the main reasons explaining the economy’s stagnation, together with the loss of competitiveness.
In the short run, the economy has started to recover mainly as a result of the U.S. expansion and the positive effects of higher oil prices. In the medium run, however, the probability of delay and approval of partial reforms will limit the flow of investment with consequences on future economic growth. If in addition we consider a deceleration of the U.S. economy in the following years, then it is possible to foresee a scenario of a more moderate recovery for Mexico in the rest of the Fox period. In other words, it is possible to expect a scenario of "recovery but at limited rates".
For the next three years, the recovery will be limited by the potential growth rate. The economy will not overpass its natural capacity to growth in order to preserve the macroeconomic stability. There are three main assumptions to consider for the following three years. The first one assumes that authorities will maintain the discipline of macroeconomic policy: fiscal and monetary policy will privilege stability more than growth and employment. The second foresees a continuation of the absence of political leadership of the administration: delay and approval of insufficient reforms. The third, considers that the U.S. economy will decelerate and will grow at more moderate rates.
This year the Mexican economy will grow 4.1%, next year will slightly decelerate to 3.9% due to the deceleration of the U.S. economy, and will not surpass 4.5% by year 2006. Price stability will be maintained, given the continuation of the anti-inflationary policy. Employment will grow slowly due to the economy’s limited capacity to grow.
However, if the economy is not able to increase domestic savings, in order to raise the coefficient of investment-output to at least 22% in the following three years, then it will not be possible to attain the potential growth rate (4.5%). There is also a probability that the opposition parties may obstruct the official reform in order to impel its own proposals, which could be used as a political platform for the 2006 presidential elections. These two elements together could deviate the economy to a risk scenario.

Continental Flights to new destinations in Mexico
Continental Airlines began daily nonstop service June 10 to Oaxaca and Toluca, Mexico, from Houston. Continental flies to more destinations in Mexico from the U.S. than any other airline. On July 1, Continental begins daily nonstop service between Houston and Durango, Mexico, bringing the airline's total of Mexican destinations to 28. To learn more, please email us. Also, visit us at www.continental.com.

Mexicana Airlines to begin daily non stop service between the JFK airport in New York and Mexico City Mexicana Airlines, the airline with the must modern fleet in the world announced that beginning July 1 the carrier will provide new service between the JFK airport in New York and Mexico City. The carrier will operate one flight each day with its popular 120 seat new Airbus A319.
The new flights are now available for sale. The schedule for the new services is as follow (all times local):

JFK/ John F. Kennedy to Mexico City (JFK-MEX)

FLIGHT	DEPARTS	ARRIVES	DAYS
001	6:30 PM	10:10 PM	Daily (effective July 1)

Mexico City to JFK/John F. Kennedy (MEX-JFK)

FLIGHT	DEPARTS	ARRIVES	DAYS
002	10:30 AM	4:10 PM	Daily (effective July 1)

For more information, please email us your request. Also, visit us at www.mexicana.com.

Mexican Presence at the Fancy Food Show in New York
Bancomext is organizing the Mexican pavilion at the Fancy Food Show, June 27 -29, Jacob Javits Center. The pavilion features 14 Mexican companies exhibiting products such as avocado, mango, table chocolate, chocolates filled with liquor, salicornia, wines, aloe vera beverage, salsas, gourmet cookies, and Cholula sauce. To learn more please contact Gabriela Yzunza 212-826-2916 x 214.

Stephen Savage, Vice President Corporate Strategy, Computer Associates.
By William Farrell

Q-Stephen, for our members who are not familiar with Computer Associates, can you tell us what CA is?
A-Computer Associates International (CA) is one of the world’s leading providers of software management solutions and services for the management of IT infrastructure, business information and application development. CA solutions address an extensive range of management challenges across the full range of both mainframe and distributed environments.

Q-What is CA currently doing in Mexico.
A-CA has a sales and support center in Mexico City with satellite locations in Guadalajara and Monterrey. We market to and support large enterprises in Mexico with a direct sales force and the SMB market through partners. Principally, our clients are in the telecom, finance, retail and petrochemical and manufacturing sectors. Telmex is a well-known client of ours.

Q-What opportunities do you see in Mexico for CA?
A-NAFTA created enormous opportunity for Mexico to extend its market reach throughout North America. This has placed tremendous pressure for Mexican businesses to invest in IT infrastructures that will enable them to compete and expand their ecosystems, while at the same time integrating with their counterparts. Consequently, they must ensure that their IT infrastructures are compatible, extendable, reliable and secure. CA can help companies address these management challenges with our superior software products that deliver flexibility, intelligence and platform-neutrality.

Q-How will you expand in Mexico?
A- More and more Latin American business leaders are looking to Mexico as a place to concentrate their IT investment because of the country’s proximity to the US, its stable economy and world class IT graduates. Combined with increased concentration of investment are the macro effects of standardization, infrastructure integration, and business expansion that will create increased need for what we do.

Q-How long has CA been a USMCOC member?
A-CA joined this year. We recognized that by joining the Chamber, CA could achieve a higher level of awareness in the country, as well as strengthen our involvement with the Mexican business community and further demonstrate our commitment to Mexico. We felt the Chamber was an excellent way to achieve these goals. We are also working with the Chamber to guide CA on how we can effectively support Mexico’s development and growth. Recently CA made a substantial gift of software, outside of government channels, to aid education in Mexico and to help close the computing gap. And, last year we launched the Missing and Exploited Children site in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General.

Q-What else does Mexico need to do to close the gap?
A- Mexico has some of the largest and highest ranking companies in the world. Even though their IT use is far reaching, there is a technology gap when it comes to the vast majority of Mexican enterprises in adhering to and extending their IT infrastructures to drive and accelerate growth.

Q-How did you get involved with Mexico?
I spent 18 months living there and establishing CA in Mexico. It was a delightful experience that gave me a deep understanding of Mexico, its people and its future. CA opened offices there because it clearly supports our commitment to maintaining our position as an IT management software leader, and our offices there further enhance our ability to penetrate and support the Mexican market.

Q-Finally, tell our members and readers how they can learn more about CA, how they can get in touch with you.
A- While establishing the CA offices in Mexico, I recruited very talented people to lead our business. Santiago Ontañon, Country Manager and Antonio Couttelenc, Country Sales Manager may be contacted at +52 55 5387 5400.

Send your member news to northeast@usmcoc.org or call 212 471 4704 for more information.

Joel B. Harris Nomination
Effective May 2004, Joel Harris of Thacher Proffitt & Wood NY was nominated to the Board of Directors of the New York County Lawyers’ Association. The NYCLA has served the New York County legal community for 95 years. One of the largest and most influential county bar associations in the country, NYCLA’s headquarters house a full library tech center, a research service, as well as facilities for CLE programs. Joel is past chair of the International Law & Practice Section of the New York State Bar Association.

Frequent flyer agreement between American Airlines & Mexicana Airlines
On May 12, American Airlines and Mexicana Airlines began code sharing on each other's flights between the United States and Mexico, the first phase of a wide-ranging code sharing arrangement that will strengthen each carrier's route system and provide increased flight options to customers of both airlines. In addition, a reciprocal frequent-flyer arrangement was established that enables members to accrue and redeem miles in America’s AAdvantage program or Mexicana's Frecuenta program on each other's network, including more than 500 round trips per week between the United States and Mexico.

Corporate Event Photographer Julia Mold, who has photographed various Chamber events, was recently selected to photograph all of the seminars and receptions for World Trade Week 2004, a promotion of international trade of the World Trade Institute. Most recently, she covered Pace University's critical conference on "Civil Society, Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Development in the United States and Brazil." Visit www.dotphotopro.com and use Photographer: entertainmentglobal to view the images.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

The U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce Welcomes its NEW MEMBERS:

Binational Level

• Duane Morris

Corporate Level

• AXA Advisors
• Barclays
• For a Better World Productions
• Univision
• Gary Cadogan
• Tortillería Chinantla
• Roura & Melamed

Associate Level

• The Belmont Child Care Association
• Vision Mexico

Individual Level

• Kerim A. Bertrand
• Jaquie Fisher

The U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce Thanks its Following Members for Renewing their Commitment with us:

Corporate Level

• Thelen Reid & Priest LLP
• Bowne International
• Consist International
• Iron Street Partners LLC
• M. Castedo Architects
• Shearman & Sterling
• Aeromexico
• NH Hotels
• Banca Nazionale del Lavoro SPA
• Alvarez & Marsal
• Mexico Toursim Board
• JP Morgan Chase
• Continental Airlines

Associate Level

• Cinema Tropical
• Centro Entérate
• Hudson River Community Health
• Promujer

March 31, 2004
Tasa Cero: Value Added Tax Exemption for International Meetings and exhibitions.
In association with the Mexico Tourism Board. As of January 2004, Mexico has begun to exempt foreign companies from the value added tax for international meetings and exhibitions. The Mexico Tourism Board provided an informative presentation on the new legislation and specifics of how it is applied.
View photos   

April 3, 2004
Inter-Chamber Football Soccer Tournament and Reception
International Chambers Of Commerce Soccer Tournament. A one full day event filled with soccer passion where the British team won the championship in a tight match against Spain. In association with the Belgian, Brazilian, British, Irish, French, Italian and Spanish Chambers of Commerce. Sponsored by: Chronospost International. Mexico Team Sponsored by: Thacher, Proffitt & Wood. Special Donation by: Tecate and Good Food in a Basket. In kind contributions courtesy of: Bass, Brasserie Les Halles, Churrascaria Plataforma, D'Artagnan, La Bonne Soupe, Peroni, Sambazon, Stella Artois & Walkers Shortbread.

April 14, 2004
Jorge Castañeda, Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico: "Mexico: The Unfinished Agenda"
On the evening of April 14th we partnered with the Americas Society/Council of the Americas to sponsor a presentation by former secretary of foreign affairs Jorge Castañeda. Mr. Castañeda recently declared his candidacy for the Presidency of Mexico in the upcoming 2006 elections. He began his presentation by contrasting the 2000 and 2006 elections. He characterized the 2000 election as a referendum on whether the PRI should be in or out of power. The results clearly showed that the people of Mexico wanted a change and Vicente Fox was elected. In Mr. Castañeda’s opinion President Fox’s greatest achievement was to obtain a rotation in power without violence, economic crisis or devaluation of the peso that could have been expected, following past presidential changes in Mexico. Mr. Castañeda felt that many of the changes that Mexico needed weren’t possible because President Fox had to deal with the obsolete existing power structures. The speaker said that a "Citizens’ Independent Candidate" is the only solution in the 2006 elections. He expressed his opinion that the PAN, PRI and PRD are parties from the past and there is no way that Mexico can go forward with them given their infighting, corruption and "uselessness". To go forward Mexico needs new parties he opined, but to get to these new parties Mexico first needs an independent, non-party president. He also shared with us the following:

No party in Congress will have a majority anyway so why not have a president with no party "baggage"? Mexico needs to vote for the future or the past. A broad citizens’ movement was needed to bring about, most importantly, "rule of law", the number one issue on his campaign plank. Without it, it will be impossible to attract and retain investment. Without investment the poor will have no opportunity. Mexico is currently the worst country (number 110 of 110) for resolving contractual problems. He cited the need for a national police force, reformed Attorney General’s office and reformed Justice Department, new national laws and civil and criminal codes drafted. Property rights have to be clarified for the poor, middle class, rich and even the government.

Next in importance is educational reform. Mexico lags behind many Latin American countries in education. It needs to be reformed dramatically at the primary, secondary and university levels. The Ministry of Education must be reformed.

Institutions need to be re-formed, re-establishing elections of senators and congressmen. There need to be referenda on major constitutional issues. A semi-presidential, semi-parliamentary system needs to be established. There needs to be a runoff system for presidential elections. Independent candidates are needed.

The evening concluded with a question and answer session.

April 19, 2004
"Getting to know your Latin American Operations" Seminar and Reception at the Union League Club, New York City. Guest Speakers: José Claudio Treviño, Director, Financial Services Group, Kroll Inc., Kofi Appenteng , Partner, Corporate and Financial Institutions Practice Group, Thacher, Proffitt & Wood, LLP and Andrés Antonius, Managing Director, Kroll Inc. (Moderator). In the aftermath of the Enron-triggered wave of corporate scandals in the U.S. and the current crisis at Parmalat in Europe, companies must be knowledgeable and vigilant of all their operations and the regulatory and legal environments that apply in the different countries that they do business in. Latin America is no exception to this new environment. U.S. based managers need to have a better understanding of how their businesses are operating in Latin America, and legal departments need to develop a thorough approach to risk management. At this event, attendees were able to learn from financial and legal experts about key risks involved with business operations in Latin America, and the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley and the new legal and regulatory frameworks emerging in many Latin American countries. Event sponsored by Kroll, Inc. and Thacher, Proffitt & Wood.
View photos   

April 21, 2004
Spring Networking Reception in association with the Venezuelan American Association of the U.S., the Colombian American Association, the Ecuadorean American Association, the North American-Chilean Chamber of Commerce and the Argentine-American Chamber of Commerce, New York City.
View photos   

April 27, 2004
"Mexico 2006 Elections Outlook": Private Breakfast with Luis Carlos Ugalde, President Councilor of the Federal Electoral Institute of Mexico, New York City hosted by ZN Mexico Funds.

May 5, 2004
Annual "Cinco de Mayo" Luncheon Celebration
On May 5th, we celebrated the traditional Annual Cinco de Mayo Luncheon. More than 120 persons from the business community of New York gathered at Zona Rosa Restaurant in New York City to enjoy the best of the Mexican cuisine. Our guest of honor was Arturo Sarukhan, Consul General of Mexico in New York. The event was kindly sponsored by Aeromexico, represented by Martin Reichard, Regional Manager. Aeromexico raffled two round trip tickets with Aeromexico to anywhere in Mexico. Part of the proceeds went to the benefit the New York State Justice for Farmworkers Campaign. Special thanks to Tequila El Tesoro and Cerveceria Cuauthemoc Moctezuma for their kind donations. Zona Rosa Restaurant located at 40 West 56th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) in New York City.
View all photos   

May 18, 2004
Author talk: Greater America: A New Partnership for the Americas in the 21st Century by L. Ronald Scheman. In association with the Organization of Women in International Trade and Pace University.

June 8, 2004
Breakfast and Presentation "Mexico Tourism: An Investment Opportunity"
Guest Speakers: Rodolfo Elizondo, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; Francisco J. Ortiz, CEO, Mexico Tourism Board, and John McCarthy, Director, Nacional Trust Fund for Tourism Development (FONATUR). To learn more about Tourism Investment Opportunities in Mexico click here.
View photos   

June 16, 2004
Manufacturing and Logistics Solutions in Mexico. Limitless Business Land.
The seminar educated the attendees in how to reduce manufacturing costs and develop a more profitable operation in a location closer to their customers in the U.S. West Coast Market. How take advantage of our Free Trade Agreements with more than 40 countries, including the U.S., Canada and very soon, Japan.

Just In Time Programs, Low Volume – High Mix production solutions, reduction of short cycle inventories, packaging, distribution, logistics, customer support... etc.

Speakers focused on presenting location, business guide, solutions and successful stories.

Guest speakers: Stephen Blank: Professor, Lubin School of Business, Pace University and Director of PanAmerican Partnership for Business Education, "Borders and the New North America"; Ricardo Martinez: Director of The Industrial Development Commission of Mexicali, Mexico, Manufacturing and Logistics Solutions"; Rodolfo Andrade: Mexican Industrial Developer, "How to land in Mexico"; Stefan Stoll: Senior Vice President Manufacturing, Robert Bosch Tool Corporation "Case Study". View photos   

June 17, 2004
Latin American Business Network Reception at El Museo del Barrio.
This event gathered over 150 executives from Latin America’s most prestigious companies doing business in New York, in an evening of fun, fine art, live music, and mojitos while building business relationships.

The event included a guided tour to the exhibition "Latin American and Caribbean Art from the Collection of the Museum of Modern Art". In association with the Argentine-American Chamber of Commerce, the Bolivian-American Chamber of Commerce, the Colombian American Association, the Ecuadorean American Association, the North American-Chilean Chamber of Commerce and the Venezuelan American Association of the U.S. Sponsored by Continental Airlines, Mexico Toursim Board and Violy & Company, and in partnership with El Museo del Barrio. Catering service donated by Café Ronda, a unique restaurant in New York that serves Latin-Mediterranean Fusion (249 Columbus Avenue, NYC). Hotel stays in Mexico City and Ixtapa from NH Hoteles and Sol Meliá hotels were raffled at the event.

Opportunities to support the Mexican Community in the Tri-State Area
In the last two years Centro Entérate (501 c 3- nonprofit organization) has successfully reached and helped more than 1,500 Mexican immigrants in the New York Area. We continue expanding our operations.

Ways to help!

• Open positions for bilingual volunteers (English and Spanish)
• Accepting computer and other office equipment donations
• Tax deductible donations are also welcomed!

For more information about Centro Entérate please visit www.centro-enterate.org or contact Sonia Vera at 917-494-1335.

Mexico Tourism Investment up 12.2 percent
Tourism development projects in the country now amount to US$1.7 billion, say officials visiting New York to promote investment in the sector.

Investment in Mexico’s tourism industry rose 12.2 percent--from US$1.5 billion to US$1.7 billion--thanks to new investment incentives, developments and conditions, reported high-level Mexico tourism officials in New York City June 7.

Mexico Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo and Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) CEO Francisco Ortiz joined Mexico Tourism Trust (Fonatur) CEO John McCarthy as he presented details on current Mexico tourism developments at New York University’s 26th Annual International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, one of the sector’s oldest and most prestigious events.

Participating in a panel entitled "Destination Marketing Strategies: Who is traveling? Where are they going? And what is being done to grow demand?," where fellow panelists included the President & CEO of New York City & Co., McCarthy discussed some of Fonatur’s current projects, including several IPRs (Integrally Planned Resorts) designed to combine high revenue with low environmental impact. These included:

• Golden Beach, Loreto, Baja California Sur -a tourism development project covering more than 15,000 acres and including golf courses, first-class hotels, beach clubs and residential areas
• Nayarit IPR -a Pacific-coast resort project encompassing golf courses, nautical facilities, vacation homes, and ecotourism/adventure tourism attractions
• Costa Maya IPR (Integrally Planned Resort)--an area of over 22,000 acres in the Mexican Caribbean to feature a theme park, a commercial zone with tourism services, and improvements to the nearby town of Majahual
• Mar de Cortes—a 1.7-billion-dollar sustainable tourism project aiming to protect the Baja Peninsula’s rich ecological system while creating a tourist area complete with 2,500 new marinas and accompanying tourist amenities

According to Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur), Fonatur’s destinations receive 46 percent of international tourists who visit Mexico and generate 54 percent of Mexico’s tourism revenues. Occupancy rates in Fonatur’s Integrally Planned Resorts are also consistently higher than in other beach resorts, Sectur reported.

Rodolfo Elizondo explained that the Mexican government, which has long recognized tourism as a national priority, now permits 100 percent foreign ownership in most economic activities - including those within the commercial and services sectors, permitting entrepreneurs from any nation to now freely repatriate their profits, royalties, dividends and interest payments.

Fonatur CEO John McCarthy said his agency recently took its real estate sales effort global, contracting with more than 44 prestigious real estate groups to offer FONATUR’s properties in Mexico to buyers worldwide.

During their visit, Elizondo, Ortiz and McCarthy will participate in an array of tourism investment promotional activities, including a breakfast cosponsored by the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce entitled "Mexico: An Investment Opportunity." The tourism delegation will also meet with private investors interested in Mexico’s tourism sector.

According to the Mexico Tourism Board CEO Francisco Ortiz, tourism is one of the motors of the Mexican economy, accounting for 8.3 percent of the nation’s GDP.

Created in 1974, FONATUR is the premier developer of integrally-planned tourism destinations in Mexico and has been heralded for its success with Cancun, Los Cabos, Ixtapa, Loreto, Huatulco and other tourism projects combining high revenue and low environmental impact. For further information on these projects and FONATUR, visit www.fonatur.gob.mx.

For events sponsorship opportunities, contact Maria J. Fernández at (212) 912 7711.

Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Luncheon presentation on the newly passed Mexican Legislation: "Tasa Cero- Value Added Tax Exemption for International Meetings and Exhibitions." In association with the Mexico Tourism Board. From 12:00 pm - 2:00pm at Pámpano Restaurant located at 209 East 49th Street (Between 2nd & 3rd Ave), New York City.

As of January 2004, Mexico has begun to exempt foreign companies from the value added tax for international meetings and exhibitions. The Mexico Tourism Board will provide an informative presentation on the new legislation and specifics of how it will be applied. Learn more about the Tax Exemption for International Meetings.

Space is limited. Kindly click here to RSVP or call (212) 308 2110, ext. 105. See invitation.

Saturday April 3, 2004
International Chambers Of Commerce Soccer Tournament.
In association with the Belgian, Brazilian, British, English, French, Italian and Spanish Chambers of Commerce. Sponsored by: Chronospost International. Mexico Team Sponsored by: Thacher, Proffitt & Wood. Special Donation by: Tecate and Good Food in a Basket. In kind contributions courtesy of: Bass, Brasserie Les Halles, Churrascaria Plataforma, D'Artagnan, La Bonne Soupe, Peroni, Sambazon, Stella Artois & Walkers Shortbread. Come And Support Your Team!

Tournament: Including Snacks & Beverages, from 2 pm to 7.30 pm at the Field House, Chelsea Piers, Pier 62 at 22nd Street, New York, 10011

Evening Reception: Open Bar (Beer/Wine/Soda) & Buffet, from 8 pm to 10 pm at Chelsea Brewing Company, Pier 59, New York, 10011

Members & Non-members: $60.00 / Children under 21 $25.00

For more information call Mercedes Caso at (212) 912 7712 or click here to register

Friday April 16, 2004
The New Normal: Ensuring the New Security Conscious Border does not disrupt your business objectives Breakfast Briefing.

The New York University Club, From 8:00 am to 9:15 am, located at 1 West 54th Street, New York City. No cost. Space is limited. RSVP with Melissa Howard or (212) 218 2995. Co-Sponsored by: American Chemical Society - New York Section, Association of Corporate Counsel-Greater New York Chapter, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, New York State Bar Association International Law and Practice Section, The Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, United States -China Chamber of Commerce.

As Border Enforcement Transitions to Security Concerns Rather than Revenue Generation, how can you be sure that these new measures will not affect the flow of goods (e.g. chemicals, electronics, perishables and etc) and persons across borders.Learn about the new initiatives undertaken by the NAFTA partners to ensure that trade continues to flow freely throughout North America while simultaneously identifying potential pitfalls in the new barriers that are being erected to ensure that you, your employees, or your goods are not unnecessarily hindered by these new measures. Speakers Dalton Albrecht, Fraser Milner Casgrain, LLP and Matthew Nolan, Miller & Chevalier Chartered.

Monday, April 19, 2004
"Getting To Know Your Business Operations in Latin America" Seminar and Reception at the Union League Club, 38 East 37th Street, New York, 10016. For more information or to register call (212) 912 7713 or contact northeast@usmcoc.org.

In the aftermath of the Enron-triggered wave of corporate scandals in the U.S. and the current crisis at Parmalat in Europe, companies must be knowledgeable and vigilant of all their operations and the regulatory and legal environments that apply in the different countries that they do business in. Latin America is no exception to this new environment. U.S. based managers need to have a better understanding of how their businesses are operating in Latin America, and legal departments need to develop a thorough approach to risk management. At this event, you will hear from financial and legal experts who will discuss key risks involved with business operations in Latin America, and the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley and the new legal and regulatory frameworks emerging in many Latin American countries. Keynote Speaker: José Claudio Treviño, ACFE, Director of the Financial Services Group of Kroll, Inc.; moderator: Andres Antonius, PhD, Managing Director, Latin American Desk, Kroll Inc. Sponsored by Kroll, Inc.

Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Spring Networking Reception in association with the Venezuelan American Association of the U.S., the Colombian American Association, the Ecuadorean American Association, the North American-Chilean Chamber of Commerce and the Argentine-American Chamber of Commerce. At Banco Mercantil 11 East 51 Street, from: 5:30 to 8:00 pm., New York City. Co-Sponsored by: Banco Mercantil, Commerce Bank, Edward Jones Investment, Hudson United Bank and Law Debentures. Admission fees: $10 members and $15 non-members. For more information or to register call (212) 233 7776 or contact andean@nyct.net

Wednesday, May 5, 2004
Cinco de Mayo Annual Luncheon. Guest of Honor: Arturo Sarukhan, Consul General of Mexico in New York. Zona Rosa Restaurant located at 40 West 56th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) in New York City. Due to space limitations, advance registration and payment are required. To reserve your place, call (212) 912 7713. Special Donation by: Cervecería Cuahutémoc Moctezuma.

Maria J. Fernández, Executive Director, USMCOC-NE, Telephone: (212) 471 4702

If there is a topic you’d like to see covered in a future issue, write to northeast@usmcoc.org.

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The Management Committee: Rodrigo Amaré, Andrés Antonius, Eduardo Ramos-Gómez, Pat Sabino, Denise Simon and Rosemary Werrett.

María Fernández, Executive Director; Mercedes Caso, Trade Representative; William Farrell, Editor and Contributor; Julia Mold, Photographer.

The news reported in USMCOC-Northeast Chapter newsletter does not necessarily reflect the official position of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce.


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