Miami.- Companies with business in Latin America—along with some businesses based in the region—have expressed their commitment to social and economic development through sponsoring and participating in the 49th Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which will be held in Greater Miami from April 4-8.

“Supporting the Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank is a unique opportunity for Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management to express our commitment to the economic and social development in Latin America,” Ernesto de la Fe, President of Morgan Stanley Latin America, said.

For Juan Cento, President of the Latin American and Caribbean Division of FedEx Express, the meeting is an opportunity to further improve public-private coordination on development issues.

“Sponsoring the IDB Annual Meeting allows FedEx Express and FedEx Kinko’s to support an important forum that advances private-public collaboration on regional economic and social issues,” he said.

Similar motives have inspired the Argentine financial services firm SMS Latin America, the Mexican microfinance organization Banco Compartamos, and the Mexican construction company HOMEX to support the work of the IDB Miami 2008 Host Committee, a non-profit organization founded to fundraise for and organize the Annual Meeting on behalf of the United States. 

“The participation of the private sector from across the Americas will make this Annual Meeting the best in IDB history,” Jorge L. Arrizurieta, Chairman of the IDB Miami 2008 Host Committee and former U.S. Alternate Executive Director of the IDB, said.  He added that the three principal themes of the meeting are free trade, green energy, and social inclusion.

“Participating companies will not only be able to express their commitment to social and economic development in the Americas; they will also benefit from the branding and exhibition opportunities afforded by our sponsorship program.  Given that we expect 6,000 business and government leaders and 500 journalists, participation is sure to add to the recognition and goodwill our sponsoring companies already enjoy,” Arrizurieta said.

Arrizurieta also said that the list of delegates and invitees includes ministers of finance and commerce, development professionals, and star presidents and CEOs, such as Televisa Chairman Emilio Azcárraga Jean; Telefonica Chairman César Alierta, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who will speak as part of the opening event.  That event, on private philanthropy, will be presented by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

According to Arrizurieta, the various sponsorship levels range from $25,000 to $250,000, and the total cost of the meeting will approach $7,000,000.

The companies and organizations sponsoring the Annual Meeting to date are: AC Graphics • American International Group, Inc. • Akerman Senterfitt • Alcatel-Lucent  • Audi • AT&T • Banco Compartamos • Bank of America • Beacon Council  • Berger Singerman  • Biltmore Hotel • Caja Madrid • Caterpillar • Cisco • CCAA • Citi • City of Coral Gables • City of Miami • City of Miami Beach • Council of the Americas • Express Travel • Fedex• FedExKinko’s • FIBA • Florida Crystals • Fortune Realty • Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau • Grupo Lafise • GM • HOMEX • HP • The Knight Foundation • Kraft Foods • Mastercard • Mercantil Commercebank • Miami-Dade County • Miami Worldcenter Group • Morgan Stanley • Newlink • Republica • Ryder • SAS • Seaboard Marine • SMS Latin America • Standard Chartered • Teknion • Telefonica • The Academy  • The Jeffrey Group • The M Point • University of Miami Information Technology • Visa • Wachovia • Wal-Mart • Washington Economics Group • Western Union

A number of publications have also chosen to support the Annual Meeting, including:

AméricaEconomía • Business News Americas • El Nuevo Herald • Emerging Markets • Estratégia y Negócios • Euromoney • Hispanic Target • Latin Finance • Latin Trade • Mercado de Dinero • Miami Herald • PODER • South Florida CEO • Vida Y Éxito • World City.