Latin America 2022

Politics and prosperity post-pandemic.

Conference
23 May 2022 TO 24 May 2022 — 1:30PM TO 6:00PM
Mexico City and Online

From 23 May 2022 to 24 May 2022, Chatham House will hold its annual Latin America conference in Mexico in collaboration with COMEXI.

The hybrid conference brings together leading policymakers, economists, political analysts and private sector leaders to survey last year’s elections and their implications for the region’s political and economic future.

Join this year’s conference to discuss the upcoming presidential elections in Brazil and Colombia and political trends in the region, economic growth, monetary policy and the risk of inflation, opportunities in UK-Latin America commerce and investment, and Latin America in global affairs.

The conference is being hosted in Mexico City in collaboration with the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations.

Watch all recordings.


Why attend?

  • Understand how recent developments will impact long-term growth and productivity gains in Latin America.

  • Gain insight into future Latin American policy towards trade, energy, the environment and sustainability.

  • Learn what potential disruptors could impact Latin America in the coming years.

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@CH_Events
#CHCOMEXI2022

Please note that in-person spaces at this conference are limited, for information about how you might be able to attend in person please email Clare Smyllie.

This conference will be held in both Spanish and English, with simultaneous translation available.

Agenda

Monday 23 May (BST – timings subject to change)

Welcoming remarks


Introduction to the Conference: Sergio Alcocer, President, COMEXI
Robin Niblett, Director and CEO, Chatham House 

Jorge Arce, Chairman & CEO, Mexico and Co-regional Head Latin America, HSBC
Jon Benjamin, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Mexico
Enrique Garcia, Former Executive President, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America 
Chair: Robin Niblett, Director and CEO, Chatham House 

1400–1500

Elections and political trajectories: What next?

After key elections in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Nicaragua in 2021, and presidential elections in Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil (forthcoming) in 2022 can we detect trends in citizen demands, partisan realignment and policy directions within those countries and across the region? Is populism on the rise or has the wave crested? How will these electoral trends affect economic policymaking, foreign policy and political and investment?


  • What trends can be detected in citizen demands, partisan realignment and policy directions within those countries and across the region?
  • Is populism on the rise or has the wave crested?
  • How will these electoral trends affect economic policymaking, economic growth and investment?

Mercedes Aráoz , Vice President, Republic of Peru (2016-20)
Jorge Castañeda, Global Distinguished Professor of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, New York University 
Pilar Alvarez Lasso, Deputy Director-General, Social Sciences and Humanities, UNESCO
Chair: Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow, Latin America, Chatham House

1500–1630

Networking break

1630–1700

Domestic political pressure and foreign policy: Regional divergence or just diversity?

On any number of issues, from domestic politics to foreign relations, Latin American and Caribbean countries appear to be on different trajectories. Those differences may well have hampered the region in resolving intra-regional issues as well as projecting national and regional leadership globally. Has Latin America’s moment of regional solidarity and global assertion passed? What are the implications for trade, resolving regional human rights and failing states in Venezuela, Nicaragua and elsewhere?


  • Has Latin America’s moment of regional solidarity and global insertion passed?
  • What are the implications for trade, resolving regional human rights issues and failing states such as Venezuela, Nicaragua and elsewhere?

Ricardo Monreal, Chairman, Political Coordination Board and Majority Leader, Mexican Senate
Luis Rubio, Chairman, Mexico Evalua 
Chair: Andrés Rozental, Senior Adviser, Chatham House; Founding President, COMEXI

1700–1815

Lunch keynote speech


Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
Chair: Robin Niblett, Director & CEO, Chatham House 

1830–1930

Roundtable | The risks of inflation in the hemisphere and possible monetary policy paths to control it

This roundtable session explores how regional monetary policies are changing across Latin America, with expert analysis provided by presidents of national banks. 


Daniel Becker, President, Mexican Banking Association & President, Banca Mifel
Alejandro Werner, Director, Georgetown Americas Institute 
Chair: Valeria Moy, Director, Mexico’s Institute for Competitiveness 

1930–2030

Networking break

2030–2100

Latin America-UK Trade

With Brexit the UK has rushed to update existing and planned EU trade agreements to the UK, Latin America and the Caribbean, including with Central America and the Andean Region. What are current levels of investment and trade between both sides and how can they be deepened?


  • What are current levels of investment and trade between the UK and those countries?
  • How can they be deepened?

David Atherton, President, British Chamber of Commerce in Mexico 
Altagracia Gomez Sierra, Chair of the Board, Grupo MINSA
Mariano Perotti, General Manager, Mexico, Diageo
Dee Smith, CEO & Principle, Strategic Insight Group
Chair: Emma Hogan, Americas Editor, The Economist

2100–2200

End of day one

2200

Tuesday 24 May (BST – timings subject to change)

Welcome and second day opening keynote address


Rogelio Ramírez de la O, Finance Minister of Mexico
Chair: Andrés Rozental, Senior Adviser, Chatham House; Founding President, COMEXI

1400–1445

Economic recovery and growth

After a contraction of GDP by more than 7 per cent in 2020 and growth of 6.1 per cent 2021, what are Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and other countries’ long-term recovery trajectories? How long will it take the region to recover to pre-pandemic levels in terms of GDP as well as socioeconomic development? And what is the role of the private sector in stimulating economic growth and expanding economic inclusion?


  • After a contraction of GDP by more than 7 per cent in 2020, and expected growth of around 3 per cent in 2021, what are the long-term recovery prospects of Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru and other countries?
  • How long will it take the region to recover to pre-pandemic levels in terms of GDP as well as socioeconomic development?
  • What is the role of the private sector in stimulating economic growth and expanding economic inclusion and broad-based development?

Jonathan Heath, Vice Governor, Central Bank of Mexico 
Nora Lustig, Samuel Z. Stone Professor of Latin American Economics, Tulane University 
Andrés Velasco, Dean, School of Public Policy, London School of Economics
Chair: Michael Reid, Bello Columnist, The Economist

1445–1630

Networking break

1630–1700

The environment and its impact on Latin America: COP26 commitments and the role of the private sector

With the COP26 conference last year in Glasgow, what has been the progress to the commitments?  What were points of convergence and commitments from Latin America and the Caribbean? Beyond mitigation, can more be done to address adaptation and the effects on fragile food systems, infrastructure and at-risk populations? What is the role of the private sector in helping governments and citizens address these concerns? How can government and the private sector work together?


  • This session explores the commitments made during the COP26 conference and its implications for Latin America.Is there a common position on environmental issues from Latin America and the Caribbean?
  • Beyond mitigation, can more be done to address adaptation and the effects on fragile food systems, infrastructure and at-risk populations?
  • What is the role of the private sector in helping governments and citizens address these concerns?

Mariuz Calvet, Head of Sustainable Finance, Mexico and Latin America
Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Alberto de la Fuente, Managing Director, Shell Mexico
Gabriel Yorio, Deputy Minister for Finance & Public Credit, Mexico
Chair: Vanessa Rubio, Associate Fellow, Chatham House and Professor of Practice, London School of Economics

1700–1815

Lunchtime keynote address


Carlos Elizondo, Professor, Monterrey Institute 
Chair: Sergio Alcocer, President, COMEXI 

 

 

1830–1930

Closing discussion | Latin America in a globalized world: China, Russia, the US and the EU

How are domestic and geo-politics changing international dynamics of Latin America’s global insertion?



Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of Brazil
Angel Gurria, Former Secretary General, OECD
Tom Shannon, Senior International Policy Advisor, Arnold & Porter
Chair: Robin Niblett, Director & CEO, Chatham House 

1930–2100

Closing Keynote: Latin America, Mexico and the European Union


Jorge Arce, Chairman & CEO, Mexico and Co-regional Head Latin America, HSBC
Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow, Latin America, Chatham House

 

2100-2115

End of conference

2115

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