Este encuentro, único en la región, se realiza en Bogotá, Colombia con el apoyo de los gobiernos de Chile, México y Perú para promover la integración regional.

Hoy, 1 de diciembre se celebra en Bogotá, Colombia, la primera versión del evento South Summit Alianza Pacífico que tiene como propósito conectar a Europa con los ecosistemas de emprendimiento e innovación de Chile, Colombia, México y Perú.

La llegada de South Summit, el encuentro de emprendimiento e innovación líder en el sur de Europa, potencia el aterrizaje de mayores volúmenes de inversión europea no tradicional a la región y el trabajo conjunto entre todos los ecosistemas de innovación y emprendimiento de Chile, Colombia México y Perú. Para la Alianza del Pacífico este es un tema central que se ha desarrollado a través de la construcción de la Red de Agencias de Innovación que busca diseñar e integrar políticas e instrumentos de apoyo al ecosistema y sumar clústeres donde estas naciones tienen ventajas competitivas.

El South Summit apunta a promover la cultura del venture capital (inversión de grandes corporaciones y de fondos de capital en emprendimientos); abrir oportunidades de negocio entre las startups, corporaciones e inversores; y apoyar el talento con mayor potencial de internacionalización en la región.

South Summit Alianza Pacífico inició ayer 30 de noviembre con una jornada de entrenamiento para emprendedores (bootcamp) organizada en conjunto con IE Business School. Durante la segunda jornada (1 de diciembre) el encuentro cuenta con ponencias de destacados speakers internacionales especializados en acceso a capital inteligente y en victorias tempranas del trabajo conjunto entre emprendedores y las grandes corporaciones. Además de un Foro Corporativo para intercambiar experiencias entre corporaciones de la Alianza del Pacífico y Europa en materia de innovación abierta.

South Summit Europa
South Summit nació en Madrid en 2012 a partir de una alianza entre IE Business School y Spain Startup, como una apuesta a los emprendimientos, pues estos son fundamentales para reactivar las economías. Desde su creación, el South Summit rápidamente se ha convertido en el encuentro de emprendedores más importante del sur de Europa y este año llega a Latinoamérica.

En su pasada edición europea, reunió a más de 12.000 asistentes (entre ellos más de 650 inversores internacionales, 450 speakers y 3.000 ejecutivos provenientes de corporaciones). Los resultados del encuentro pueden resumirse en oportunidades de negocio y en financiación para las startups por más de un billón de dólares.

Juan José Güemes, presidente del Centro de Emprendimiento e Innovación de IE Business School destacó que “esta es la hora de los emprendedores de la Alianza del Pacífico. En un corto período de tiempo, los países que la fundaron han sido capaces de dar pasos de gigante y de constituir uno de los procesos de integración económica y comercial más relevantes y dinámicos. En la creación de un nuevo espacio de libertad y de prosperidad no puede faltar el impulso a su ecosistema de emprendimiento e innovación. A ese reto responde South Summit AP con el apoyo de IE University”.

Asimismo, Natalia Bayona, vicepresidenta de Desarrollo Internacional de Spain Startup – South Summit señaló que “la Alianza del Pacífico se ha convertido en una plataforma de atracción de negocios. Actualmente recibe el 41% de la inversión extranjera directa que llega a América Latina. Esta cifra confirma que hay una oportunidad para que los inversores y las corporaciones internacionales desarrollen alianzas estratégicas con emprendedores y apuesten por la innovación en los cuatro países”.

Lima, August 1st, 2017.- From today until August 3rd, a meeting of the technical subgroup of Regulatory Cooperation -Technical Barriers to Pacific Alliance Trade- is held in Lima, Peru.

Its purpose is to move towards the conclusion of the Annex on Regulatory Harmonization for Pharmaceutical Products, and to identify spaces for cooperation as a bloc on these subjects. The work agenda includes bioequivalence, labeling, cooperation and confidentiality, but other issues of interest will also be discussed.

It should be noted that the subgroup is working on an Annex for Pharmaceutical Products (negotiated under the Technical Barriers to Pacific Alliance Trade chapter), and that once it is in operation, it will maintain all procedures related to register and commercialization of medicines.

This is a fundamental aspect of the deep integration process of the Pacific Alliance, a mechanism committed to trade facilitation, the progressive reduction of non-tariff measures, and the revitalization of regional trade.

These works mean better access to quality, safeness, and effective medicines for all citizens.

DECLARATION OF CALI

The presidents of the Republic of Chile, Michelle Bachelet Jeria; of the Republic of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos Calderón; of the United States of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto; and of the Republic of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Godard, reunited in Santiago de Cali, Colombia, on June 30th, 2017, at the XII Summit of the Pacific Alliance.

WE DECLARE:

1.- Our commitment to the Pacific Alliance as a process that promotes deep regional integration through the free movement of people, goods, services and capital, to strengthen growth and sustainable development aimed at improving the living standards of our inhabitants and thus facing regional and global challenges.

2.- Our satisfaction with the first year of entry into force of our free trade area through the implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Framework Agreement, as well as with the significant advances in regional integration after six years of existence of the Pacific Alliance.

3.- We welcome the announcement of the kick off of negotiations to grant Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore the status of Pacific Alliance Associate State by concluding and implementing agreements with high standards of quality in trade disciplines. In this way, we are making progress towards achieving the founding objectives of the Pacific Alliance to promote a strategic integration scheme, which will boost the economic development and competitiveness of our economies. In the case of Mexico and Canada, these negotiations will be without prejudice to the validity and functioning of NAFTA, to which both countries are parties.

4.- Our commitment to free trade, regional integration and the strengthening of the multilateral trading system as means to promote competitiveness and development of our economies.

5.- Our conviction to continue promoting a green growth strategy as a way to face the challenges of climate change, which affect the region especially; reaffirm the declaration we endorse at COP 20 / CMP 10 in Lima in December 2014, as well as our endorsement of the Paris Agreement of December 2015, and we will intensify the efforts of our countries in the measurement, reporting and verification of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions with a view to identifying possible voluntary market mechanisms between the region.

6.- Our willingness to intensify efforts to incorporate the gender perspective in a transversal way in the programs and activities of the Pacific Alliance, recognizing the important role of women, including businesswomen and entrepreneur women in the growth and development of our countries, as well as for compliance with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

7.- We recognize and welcome the progress made by the Ministers of Finance in implementing their work agenda, which is set out in Annex 2, that seeks to promote integration in order to foster solid, stable and inclusive growth. Thus, we highlight the agreement to establish a debt fund that facilitates the financing of infrastructure projects and we value the decision to sign a multilateral agreement that approves the tax treatment of the income obtained by the pension funds recognized in our countries.

8.- Our recognition for the following achievements in the last year:

• The interoperability of the Single Window for Foreign Trade, the electronic exchange of phytosanitary certificates, the homologation of certificates of digital origin, the methodology for reducing the time of goods clearance and the implementation of the action plan for the mutual recognition of authorized economic operators, for the facilitation of trade in the region.
• The conclusion of the negotiation of the Annex on Food Supplements, which will remove unnecessary obstacles to trade, with a view to facilitating and increasing trade in these products in the region.
• The launch of the regional digital agenda and the roadmap that outlines a way to improve the competitiveness of our countries through ICTs and the promotion of the digital economy as sources of growth and economic development.
• The consolidation of the Platform for Student and Academic Mobility, which in its 9th call, held in 2017, granted 400 scholarships, using for the first time the Single Application Platform, reaching a total of 1,440 scholarships; as well as the creation of information gathering tools to foster progress in the recognition of degrees and national qualifications frameworks.
• The creation of the Network of Innovation Agencies (InnovAP), the adoption of operating protocols for the Pacific Alliance Business Accelerators (Red AcelerAP) and the Network of Angel Investors (Ángeles AP), as well as the first version of the Pacific Alliance Innovation Awards, to promote the internationalization of innovation and entrepreneurship.
• The implementation of the Entrepreneurial Capital Fund with the collaboration of IDB-MIF, the completion of the memorandum of understanding for collaboration between Business Development Centers, the identification of mechanisms to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participation as suppliers in the public procurement processes of the member States, and the holding of the First SME Encounter to promote its export development.
• The implementation of the Agreement on the Accelerated Patent Procedure, which streamlines administrative procedures and reduces the costs for obtaining them in the four member States.
• The creation of the Pacific Alliance Investment Facilitation Initiative (IFIAP).
• The creation of the Vacation and Work Program Guide, the Consular Cooperation Guide and the Pacific Alliance Traveler’s Guide, which facilitates the informed mobility of the citizens of the four countries and tourists.
• The actions carried out in favor of the diversification of the supply of aquaculture and fishery products, as well as the identification of the exportable offer of the four member countries to promote their international commercialization.

9.-  Our satisfaction with more than 40 activities by the Pacific Alliance Technical Groups and Subgroups and more than 70 promotional activities led by our diplomatic representatives and promotion agencies, which reaffirm the complementarity and commitment of the Member States in deepening the four pillars of integration.

10.- Our approval for the incorporation of Croatia, Slovenia and Lithuania as Pacific Alliance Observer States, at the XVII Meeting of the Council of Ministers, held on June 2, 2017 in Mexico City.

11.- Our appreciation to the 52 Pacific Alliance Observer States that participated in the Meeting with the Council of Ministers on June 29, 2017. Likewise, we highlight the work done with the observers that during the last year have promoted activities and cooperation projects in areas defined as priorities by the Pacific Alliance, such as trade facilitation, SME internationalization, science technology and innovation, people movement and education.

12.- Our firm intention to strengthen integration in Latin America, for which we welcome the holding of the second Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers responsible for Foreign Trade of Mercosur and of the Pacific Alliance, in which a roadmap was adopted for the development of future works between the two mechanisms.

13.- Our satisfaction with the strengthening of the space for cooperation in areas of common interest and rapprochement with Asia-Pacific, through the holding in November 2016 of the Second Dialogue between the Presidents of the Pacific Alliance and the Leaders of the Economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Third Ministerial Meeting between our mechanism and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in September 2016 which adopted a Framework for Cooperation.

14.- We thank the Pacific Alliance Business Council (CEAP) for its contribution to the integration process through its various proposals and recommendations to governments on issues such as trade facilitation and investment, regulatory cooperation, innovation, finance, entrepreneurship, development of new technologies, SMEs and education.

15.- Our recognition of the support and cooperation provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Latin American Development Bank (CAF), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) of great importance to advance deep integration initiatives.

16.- We are grateful to the Republic of Chile for the work carried out in its capacity as Pro Tempore Presidency of the Pacific Alliance in the last year and our support to the Republic of Colombia in the exercise of this responsibility that it assumes today.

17.- We thank the authorities and inhabitants of Santiago de Cali and Valle del Cauca, for the kind reception that contributed to the XII Summit of the Pacific Alliance and associated meetings.

Santiago de Cali, Colombia, June 30, 2017

FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE

Michelle Bachelet Jeria President

FOR THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES

Enrique Peña Nieto President

FOR THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA

Juan Manuel Santos Calderón President

FOR THE REPUBLIC OF PERU

Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Godard President

 

The business roundtable is part of the activities of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs Forum

34 women exporters and 28 buyers that includes invitees from Canada, United States, Taiwan, Panama and Germany participate.

The Peru Export and Tourism Promotion Board – PROMPERÚ informed that as part of the Pacific Alliance Leading Women Entrepreneurs Forum, a business roundtable between 34 women-led exporting companies and 28 buyers will take place for the first time on the 29^th of November.

This forum is organized by the governments of the countries of the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru) through their promotion agencies (ProChile, ProColombia, ProMéxico and PROMPERÚ) to strengthen capabilities and foster women’s empowerment and financial independence.

From the total of exporting companies that will take part in this roundtable, the majority come from Peru (15), followed by Mexico (8), Chile (7) and Colombia (4). Buyers come mainly from Chile (12), followed by Colombia, Peru and Mexico, in addition to invited importers from Canada, United States, Taiwan, Panama and Germany.

For this roundtable, more than 200 business encounters are expected with deals from different sectors: fresh, processed, organic and gourmet foods; babies and children clothing; cotton garments; costume jewelry, jewelry and gift and decorative items.

Standing out among the Peruvian products that will be offered are the maca (Peruvian ginseng), quinoa, chia, beverages prepared from superfoods, Andean grains, organic chocolate, berries, mango, coffee, and craftwork.

Products from the rest of the countries of the Pacific Alliance will include swimwear, underwear, coffee, avocado and its derivatives, chia oil, craftwork, spicy sauces, limes, dry fruit and mango.

It is worth mentioning that the forum will hold five workshops for women entrepreneurs on topics related to women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and others.

One of these workshops will be led by the Pacific Alliance Technical Group on Gender, providing information on how gender issues are being approached by the Alliance, among other subjects.

The Pacific Alliance Leading Women Entrepreneurs Forum is scheduled for 28-29 November and includes panels and workshops featuring prominent authorities, specialists, women entrepreneurs and representatives of the academic world from the member countries of the bloc.

Download HERE the Official Program for the second Pacific Alliance Leading Women Entrepreneurs Forum.

Lima, November 28, 2016.

[:]

The ambassadors of the four countries of the Pacific Alliance: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, and the commercial counselors from their promotion agencies made a joint statement highlighting the potential of this integration bloc to foster the trade in services with Australia. This took place during the promotion seminar BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUSTRALIA AND THE PACIFIC ALLIANCE that was held on October 20 in Sydney, Australia, with the participation of business representatives from different sectors, entrepreneurs, chambers of commerce, government representatives and academics.

Paula Moreno, Commercial Director for ProChile in Australia, made an introductory presentation about the Pacific Alliance as part of her welcoming the attendants, on behalf of Chile’s pro tempore presidency.

Mr. Grame Barty, Executive Director of International Operations for the Australian promotion agency Austrade, also welcomed the participants, noting the relevance of the Pacific Alliance for doing business with Australian companies, encouraging them to diversify their trade with this growing region and to consider a greater rapprochement in order to explore new business possibilities with the member countries.

Augusto Castellanos, commercial counselor for ProColombia, Esaú Garza, commercial counselor for ProMéxico and Ricardo Salamanca, counselor from PromPerú, along with Ms. Moreno, also spoke about the business opportunities and complementarities that each of the member countries offers to Australian exporters.

The importance and the impact of the Pacific Alliance were addressed by a panel formed by HE Daniel Carvallo, ambassador of Chile, HE Clemencia Forero-Ucrós, ambassador of Colombia, HE Armando Álvarez, ambassador of Mexico, and HE Miguel Palomino de la Gala, ambassador of Peru. The panel was moderated by Ms. Rhonda Piggott, Director of the New South Wales State Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade –DFAT. The main advances and goals of the Pacific Alliance were pointed out during this exchange of ideas, those being, in a nutshell, to reach the development and competitiveness of the member States in order to achieve a greater wellbeing, overcome socioeconomic inequality, promote social inclusion among their inhabitants and become a platform of projection to the world, with a special emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region, through the free flow of goods and people.

Important details for the Australian industry were also highlighted, such as the completion of the agreement between the four countries of the PA for the total trade of goods, the joint opening of consular and trading offices and the consolidation of the mechanism as the most dynamic bloc of countries in Latin America.

Later on, Ms. Loreto Leyton, Executive Director for the Chile-Pacific Foundation, spoke about the most important aspects of the Pacific region.

Lastly, Director Piggot summarized the high points of the event, reiterating the enormous potential that the Pacific Alliance represents for the expansion of business and trade between Australia and the Alliance’s member countries.

There will be an ongoing work to analyze business opportunities with the Pacific Alliance with the more than 70 people who attended the seminar, which concluded with a reception providing a space for exchange and reach out between the participants and the speakers.