INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ANNUAL MEETING STARTS MARCH 25

Rare opportunity for Calgary to promote key sectors and investment potential

(CALGARY) -  As announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in September 2009, Calgary will welcome 3000 delegates to the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) March 25-28, which is now only a few weeks away. The IDB is the world’s oldest and largest regional development bank and the main source of multilateral financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Prime Minister Harper’s decision to have Calgary host the 2011 IDB Annual Meeting confirms our city’s growing position as an competitive, global centre for business“, said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. ”International events such as these are great for Calgary because they help us increase our global profile to continue attracting skilled workers and international investment.”

This is a significant and important event for Calgary to be hosting and our city will be only the third Canadian city to host an Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB. 

“The IDB Annual Meeting puts Calgary in the spotlight giving us significant opportunity to promote the work being done to build a global energy centre and a global financial centre,” said Bruce Graham, president and CEO, CED.

“To a captive audience, we will showcase our city as a superior investment and trade development partner with key markets in Latin America and the Caribbean,” continued Graham.

Regional heads of governments, ministers of finance and development, governors of central banks, as well as representatives from international organizations and financial institutions participate, making the IDB Annual Meeting one of the most prestigious international gatherings in the Western Hemisphere.

Calgary Economic Development is proud to be working with the Bank on various aspects of the meeting program including the Private Sector Program and Mayor’s Municipal Program.

Media interested in attending the annual meeting need to register through the Bank before March 11 at: http://events.iadb.org/calendar/eventDetail.aspx?lang=en&id=1793&OID=195