The Tribune

US Embassy speaker José Raul Perales is scheduled to speak at the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation first National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce on Thursday at SuperClubs Breezes.

Mr Perales is the Director of the Americas at the US Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA). Mr Perales oversees AACCLA’s operations and several policy programmes, including trade facilitation, regional integration, corporate sustainability, and institutional partnerships. Additionally, he is responsible for broadening and strengthening the AACCLA network throughout the Caribbean and Latin American region. He is expected to speak on “The Changing Role of Business in the Hemispheric Agenda.”

According to Alexander Sokoloff, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, “the Embassy recognises that the Bahamas is one of America’s most important trading partners in the hemisphere and any opportunity to assist with private sector development is welcomed. To date, the Bahamas is our 48th largest export market in the world and we believe that helping to strengthen the private sector here will ultimately create increased benefits and opportunities to both American and Bahamian firms.”

“The Chamber would like to thank the United States Embassy for facilitating Mr Perales’ participation in this one-of-a kind event,” said Chamber of Commerce CEO, Mr Edison Sumner. “To have someone of Mr Perales stature involved in the conclave signals the significance of the conversations anticipated at the National Conclave.”

The Conclave is the first event of its kind to be held, with the intent of creating better linkages between the Chambers of Commerce to strengthen their constituencies, as well as provide a well-researched and comprehensive contribution to the National Economic Plan discussions. Other guest speakers include representatives from the Government of the Bahamas, private sector and industry leaders, and international governing bodies of the International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund and the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America.