Upon concluding its 35th annual Hemispheric Congress earlier this month, CAMACOL the Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States, alongside AICO, the Ibero American Chambers of Commerce Association, issued a joint declaration defending the importance of democracy in the region as a driving force for economic development and prosperity. Below is the full declaration:
DECLARATION OF THE 35th PERMANENT SECRETARIAT
AICO AND CAMACOL
ENCOUNTER OF TWO GRAND INSTITUTIONS
35th HEMISPHERIC CONGRESS OF
LATIN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
43rd ASSEMBLY OF IBERO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
JOINT DECLARATIONS
During the last two hundred years, after the consolidation of the beginning of freedom, understanding for such political freedom, freedom of religion, ideological freedom and all it encompasses in us like economic freedom, we have been presently wondering at the biggest economic and social development of humanity. The separation of powers, the market economy, the respect to private property and the leading role of the managerial private sectors have all been the keys of this success.
After finalizing our deliberations, assembled in Miami,
We declare:
1. Our compromise with the strengthening of a democratic system of government and state organization.
2. The entire validity of private enterprise deprived as the principal generator of wealth and jobs.
3. The need to deepen even more the liberty of commerce fulfilling established agreements, the effective laws, and the numerous unfulfilled declarations.
4. We propitiate that governments face the legislation to encourage the development of the managerial initiatives and does not commit the frequent error of creating excessive laws and regulations that cause an increase of unemployment with consistent population impoverishment.
5. We propitiate in that governments guide legislation to foment the development of entrepreneurial initiatives and do not commit the frequent mistake creating excessive laws and regulations that cause an increase of unemployment with consequence of population impoverishment.
6. We reiterate our compromise in which the entrepreneurial action generates equal opportunities as the base of social welfare.
In the city of Coral Gables, Florida, on the fifth day of June, 2014
Wifredo “Willy” Gort
President Hemispheric Congress
Peter Hill
President AICO
As it relates to Cuba’s economic situation, last month the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC) released a commissioned report on Cuba’s new investment laws, titled “FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN SOCIALIST CUBA: UNCERTAIN REAL PROFITS FOR FOREIGN CAPITAL AND CONTINUED EXPLOITATION OF THE LABOR FORCE , prepared by José Álvarez, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor, University of Florida.
You can read or download this report by clicking here.