2003 Hispanic Business Conference

The Department of State will host the 2003 Hispanic Business Conference on Monday, May 19. Speakers include Secretary of the Treasury John Snow, Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick, Small Business Administrator Hector V. Barreto and White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales, with closing remarks by Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage. Conference participants will discuss ways in which commercial links between Latin American and U.S. Hispanic business leaders and economic decision-makers can be strengthened. The conference runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and is open for press coverage.

There will be two panel discussions -- one on trade chaired by Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs J. Curtis Struble, and one on investment chaired by Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs E. Anthony Wayne -- during which conference participants will review ways to encourage market opening in Latin America through export promotion opportunities and to assist in the creation of an environment that welcomes foreign direct investment and leads to good governance.

Pre-set time for cameras:   7:30 a.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance
Pick-up time for stills and writers: 8:30 a.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance
Final access for press: 8:45 a.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance

Media representatives who plan to attend must present one of the following press credentials: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver’s license or passport).

For further information, please contact Jim Wojtasiewicz, Economic Bureau, Office of Commercial and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State, at (202) 647-2744 or the Office of Press Relations, U.S. Department of State (202) 647-2492.