Liveblog: Latin America – delivering growth, strengthening societies

here’s the peru gossip: peru’s first lady, nadine heredia, is a potential successor down the line– her approval ratings are high (61% in march)

klaus schwab: ‘3 conclusions. 1)reforming a country needs a comprehensive approach. 2) we have to get used to a new picture of latin america. it can become a kind of role model for inclusive growth policies. 3) in order to achieve what you want to achieve, you need a multi-stakeholder approach… business leadership… young leaders… women… social entrepreneurs.’

martinelli talking about tax rates in panama— sounds like a bargain to any americans in the crowd.

growing middle classes across latam means citizens’ growing expectations– they’re becoming more organized and vocal than ever before, demanding better services– and they’re more willing to resort to social and labor unrest when these demands go unmet.

martinelli: ‘we here today, as presidents, have committed to being players and not spectators.” buzzwords: expansion, modernization.

here’s the martinelli gossip: there’s been ample speculation that he might try to change the constitution to run for president again.. but the chances for that have significantly diminished as his popularity has ebbed.

so peru punches in at 6.3% expected growth for 2013.
mexico 3.4%–
panama taking the cake with expected 8.9%

today, panama is a country “under construction.”

martinelli: “latin america is no longer a mere spectator. we are players.”

pena nieto: “i am very optimistic and very enthusiastic that mexico is going to have a better future.”

in mexico, reforms at different stages on a few key fronts–

teachers’ protests don’t seem to be discouraging pena nieto from implementing education reform.

telecom reform still needs lower chamber / state approval– could take a few years to implement..

and… financial reform is postponed given the electoral scandal that’s unfolding.

mexico looking steady on growth. last year: 3.9% ; this year’s forecast: 3.4%

pena nieto: let’s “democratize productivity.”

the twin term for humala’s “social inclusion” ?

his speaking here could perhaps be seen as a show of confidence on his end in the electoral corruption scandal.

mexican president enrique pena nieto has the floor.

and president humala has concluded his open talk.

klaus schwab now congratulating him on his address, and emphasizing his enthusiasm for a panel of leaders at the forefront of “building a new latin america”

in peru, protests are still the weapon of choice for popular expression on policy– that won’t change until we see a strong institutional framework to channel discontent.

humala talking about improvements in peru– here’s a compelling one: peru fact #2: since 2004, the number of peruvians living in poverty has been halved from 59% to 28%

it makes sense humala is talking ‘social inclusion policies’ when it comes to growth: his original base of support is lower socioeconomic groups. he’s recently been able to recover some more support from them…

humala: ‘to secure development, we need to grow economically and be able to distribute that growth… what we call ‘social inclusion.’

this is peru’s first time hosting a wef regional gathering

here’s a fun fact for before we get started: the country with the most physicians per capita is… cuba. (with 6.7/ 1000)