At the Economist Events’ first Cuba Summit in the US, Economist editors, business and policy leaders, and industry experts will analyze Cuba’s changing economic, social and political future.
Foreign businesses operating in Cuba face many restrictions preventing them from responding quickly to emerging opportunities. The shift in U.S.-Cuban relations promises to give a further boost to Cuba’s integration with the global economy, opening a new frontier for international companies. The Cuba Summit will gather business leaders and policymakers, including Alex Lee, Deputy assistant secretary for South America and Cuba for the US Department of State.
When: December 3rd 2015 | 8am – 6pm ET
Where: Four Seasons Hotel, 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20007
Why to attend?
With in-depth insight and analysis and a distinctly global perspective, the Cuba Summit will explore the most pressing issues facing potential investors in Cuba. Hear from Economist editors, senior leaders and those most familiar with Cuba to learn how to navigate the short- and long-term risks and opportunities of doing business there
Featured topics
- A look at Cuba’s political and macro-economic environment.
- Navigating the financial landscape: Transitioning from the dual currency system
- Foreign experience of economic reform—lessons for Cuba
- Repercussions of changes in foreign policy and their impact on investment
- The outlook for infrastructure: Opportunities through PPPs
- Start-up Cuba? Exploring the potential of Cuba’s unique labour market
- The risks in expanding to Cuban markets
- Lessons to be learned from current companies active in Cuba, for those considering entering the market
Speakers
– Alex Lee Deputy assistant secretary for South America and Cuba, US Department of State
– Devry Boughner Vorwerk, Vice-president, corporate affairs, Cargill Incorporated
– David Pathe, President and chief executive, Sherritt International Corporation
– Dave Seleski, President and chief executive, Stonegate Bank
– Andrew Macdonald, Director and vice-president, Havana Energy
– William Lane, Senior director, global government and corporate affairs, Caterpillar
– Henry Tricks, Mexico bureau chief, The Economist. Follow him in twitter @HenryTricks
– Pedro Freyre, Partner, Akerman
– Doug Madory, Director of internet analysis, Dyn. Follow him in twitter @DougMadory
– Jessica Faieta, UN Assistant secretary-general, UNDP regional director for Latin America. Follow her in twitter @JessicaFaieta
– Fernando Funes Monzote Agroecologist, Farmer
– Omar Everleny Pérez Villanueva, Professor in the Department of Economics and a Researcher at the Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy at the University of Havana.
– Paul Johnson, President and owner, Chicago Foods International Group
– Kay Keuhne, Regional director, Latin America, Airbnb. Follow him in twitter @karlkater
– Ricardo Torres, Associate professor, Centro de Estudios de la Economía Cubana (CEEC), University of Havana
– Hiram Centelles, co-founder, revolico.com, fonoma.com, yagruma.com. Follow him in twitter @hcentelles
Industries attending
- Accounting
- Aviation
- Agriculture
- Automotive
- Construction
- Credit Card / Charge Card
- Hotels and hospitality
- Legal
- Mining
- Professional services
- Shipping
- Spirits
- Travel and tourism
- Telecommunications
Agenda
8:30 am Opening Remarks
8:45 am Eyes on Cuba. Navigating a renewed relationship. Speaker: Jessica Faieta
9:45 am Foreign models. Drawing parallels from international experiences of economic reform. Speaker: Experts Panel
10:15 am Dia Cero The future of monetary reform. Speakers: Omar Everleny Perez Villanueva and Dave Seleski.
11:00 am Networking break
11:30 am Infrastructure overhaul The outlook for rebuilding. Speakers: Bill Lane and Andrew Macdonald
12:15 pm Feeding Cuba Solving the productivity problem. Speakers Paul Johnson, Fernando Funes Monzote and Devry Boughner Vorwerk
1:00 – 2:30 pm Lunch (Tentative topic) The tourist effect. Speaker Kay Keuhne
2:30 Connecting Cuba to the world Going digital. Speaker: Doug Madory,
3:15 Tapping top talent Human capital and market regulation. Speakers: Pedro Freyre, David Pathe and Ricardo Torres
4:00 pm Next generation Cuba The future of pluralism and debate. Speaker Hiram Centelles.
4:30 pm Closing remarks followed by networking reception
For more information, please visit: cuba.economist.com. To register for the event, please visit: cuba2015.eventbrite.com.
Join the conversation and connect with speakers and attendees on Twitter via #CubaSummit.
Image: James Goodwin via Wikimedia Commons