DC Forum: Latin America infrastructure projects grew 5.5% to $60B in 2004

WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 21, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Third Annual Latin American Leadership Forum, featuring the top 40 infrastructure projects in Latin America, will be held in nation's capital March 22-23 at the Hall of the Americas, at the Organization of American States (OAS).

Boosted by the strong international market for commodities Latin America grew by 5.5% in 2004, and is projected to grow another 4.4% in 2005. Exports increased by more than 25% across the region, lead by Chile's more than 50% growth. The forum presents the top 40 infrastructure projects in Latin America, along with the top 10 investment programs. Total project value is $60 billion.

Projects in Eight Categories
The Leadership Forum focuses on the best projects in eight distinct project categories: oil & gas; ports & logistics; water and sanitation; digital infrastructure, electricity, mining & logistics, urban mass transit, and strategic infrastructure. Projects address bottlenecks to regional growth, and global competitiveness. Key examples include the Manzanillo regasification facility in Mexico (project value: $1.5 billion), the Transandean freight rail concession between Chile and Argentina (project value: $70 million), the new wastewater treatment plant in Panama City (project value: $350 million), along with 37 other new business opportunities. Key companies presenting include Petrobras, CFE, Eletrobras, Sabesp, Pemex and other leading firms.

Speakers - A Forum for Leaders
The new Brazilian public/private partnership model will be presented by its authors, as will extensions of the successful Chilean concession model - and other critical financing strategies. "The design of the Leadership Forum, and the series of events around the Forum, allows participants to create a true infrastructure marketplace -- of projects, financing sources, ideas and relationships" says Norman Anderson, president and CEO of CG/LA Infrastructure. Keynote speakers include Enrique Garcia, president of the Andean Development Corp., Dennis Flannery, executive vice president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and Demian Fiocca, vice president of BNDES in Brazil. On a yearly basis, these institutions lend more than $45 billion to the region.

Key forum sponsors include 13 public and private entities -- the SAS Institute Inc., AON Corp., Banco do Brasil, Cemex, Lacaz-Martins, MIGA (World Bank Group), Patton Boggs LLP, Taylor-Dejongh Inc. and Zenteno-Lira Mora. Additional sponsors include ExxonMobil, the Colombian Coffee Federation and FedexKinkos. The IDB will host the forum reception.

For more information, contact Alex Shtogren at 202.776.0990, or ashtogren@cg-la.com
. For more information please visit: www.latinamericanleadershipforum.com.

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