Latin America Initiative of German Business (LAI)
Purpose
The Latin America Initiative of German Business (LAI) aims to improve the general economic and political conditions for business on the subcontinent and to strengthen and secure Germany’s economic position in Latin America in the long term. At the same time, the LAI works continuously to intensify bilateral relations between Germany and Latin American countries.
Sponsor organisations
- Federation of German Industries (BDI)
- Association of German Banks (Bankenverband)
- Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA)
- Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK)
- Business Association for Latin America (LAV)
Activities
The LAI works to strengthen regional economic cooperation and integration processes and to improve market access in individual countries and regional unions. It also seeks to improve both Latin America’s overall image in Germany as well as the training of skilled workers for companies in the region.
The LAI also organises the Latin America Conference of German Business every two years.
Position papers of the German business community on Latin America
Prior to presentation by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle of the government’s cross-departmental blueprint for Latin America on 4 August 2010 (German only), the LAI drafted recommendations of its own on the long-term design of German policy on Latin America:
Recommendations for the German government’s blueprint for Latin America, March 2010 [PDF] (German only)
The LAI gave its assessment of the “Boom Region Latin America” in its keynote paper of the same name during Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Latin America in May 2008:
Keynote paper, May 2008 [PDF] (German only)
Chair
Reinhold Festge, Haver & Boecker
Contact at the Association of German Banks
Larissa Fiedler
