ATLANTA -- The U.S. Department of Commerce has selected Atlanta as the host of the first-ever Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) scheduled for June 11-13. The ACF will convene senior government leaders from the Western Hemisphere’s 33 countries to discuss ways to improve the region’s ability to compete in the global marketplace.

The forum is a direct result of President Bush’s recommendation to meet with all of the leaders from the Western Hemisphere to discuss improving the region’s competitiveness. President Bush first made the recommendation following the Summit of the Americas in November 2005 held in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

“The Americas Competitiveness Forum is an excellent opportunity to work on policies and strategies that attract investment and promote free enterprise throughout the region,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez. “What successful leaders know is that business investment brings a multitude of benefits, including jobs and more revenue for health and education.”

Atlanta competed with Louisville, Ky., and Research Triangle Park, N.C., for the honor to host the competitiveness forum. The Department of Commerce selected Atlanta as the host because of its history of forming strong public-private partnerships to foster business innovation and drive competitiveness.

“The decision by Commerce Secretary Gutierrez and his team is another confirmation that Atlanta is a strong model for business development,” said Sam A. Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. “Atlanta has successfully leveraged its many resources, especially public-private partnerships, local universities and our logistical infrastructure like Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.”

The forum will consist of panel discussions on topics such as leveraging the local government, business and university ties to foster innovation and technological readiness, education and workforce development and supply chain management. The conference will also incorporate site visits around the region that relate to the forum’s theme and main topics.

“The selection of Atlanta to host this forum testifies to the city's and Georgia's success in fostering competitiveness," said Craig Lesser, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development and vice-chair of Hemisphere, Inc. "The forum will help cement our state's already-thriving relationships with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean."

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The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (MACOC) -- with our 4,000 member companies that collectively employ more than 700,000 workers -- is a catalyst for a vibrant metro region. The Metro Atlanta Chamber focuses on the issues that matter most to the business community: improving quality of life, promoting economic growth and making Atlanta a brand name that means opportunity.

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