Panama City was the site of the annual meeting of the most important and successful businessmen in Latin America. Sands bordering an emerald-green sea and an incredible view over the Pacific Ocean formed the ideal backdrop of the InterContinental Playa Bonita, venue of the VI Fathers and Sons Meeting.

Panama hosts a myriad of cultures from distinct nations that have discovered there great opportunities and an excellent quality of life. It is one of the most modern cities in the region and the principal banking and financial center in Latin America.

On Monday, February 25, the guests of the great event took part in a dinner held outdoors in the Ruins of Old Panama and offered by President Martin Torrijos and Vice-President and Chancellor Samuel Lewis, in which they shared and exchanged opinions regarding how to improve the living standards of those existing below the poverty line in Latin America.

On Tuesday, February 26, the workday was marked by the full participation of young businessmen of Central America and Brazil who reported on the progress of meetings and projects realized since the previous meeting in Santiago de Chile. In their final assessment, the young entrepreneurs from Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela and other countries of Central and South America, emphasized the importance of efforts in the social sphere.

In the afternoon session, canal administrator, Alberto Aleman Z., and participants, took part in a forum regarding the operation of the Canal and projects for its expansion, a work estimated at US$5,250,000,000, given the great significance of the Panama Canal's strategic geographic location and indispensable transit point for the global economy.

On the third day, the Colombian singer Shakira took part, discussing her activities in the realm of social responsibility. Following on, Mexican Carlos Slim, one of the initiators of the annual meeting, presented the challenges facing Latin America and the activities realized by the members of the Summit. In the afternoon session, the former presidents of Honduras, Ricardo Maduro; El Salvador, Francisco Flores; and Bolivia, Jorge Quiroga, took part in a panel regarding Geo-Politics, with former Prime Minister of Spain, Felipe Gonzalez, as moderator.

That was the final activity in which the principal objective was the participation of the young people and the analysis of how to organize and bring about intermediate meetings in order to evaluate and share the experiences obtained in each one of the countries with regard to the area of social challenges specific to their generation.

PROFILE OF SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS

FELIPE BOSCH
Felipe Bosch is a businessman with Multinversiones Corporation, which employs around 30,000 people in Central America, the United States, and the Dominican Republic. He is said to be one of the potential candidates for the Presidency of the Panama Republic, an assertion which he neither confirms nor denies: "For Felipe Bosch, the political sphere is still very new and he needs many more years of experience", he says.

Currently, he is president of the Strategic Committee for Multinversiones and during 1998 and 1999, he was vice-president of the Chamber of Industry. He was also president of the Chamber in 2000 and 2001 and in the last year presided over the Coordinating Committee for Agricultural, Commercial and Financial Associations (CACIF).

CARLOS PELLAS
Since the beginning of the 1980s, he has presided over Grupo Pellas: a conglomerate of over more than 50 businesses, although some 20 of them can be considered of paramount importance and require the most analysis.
Among the most important companies are: in the financial sector, BAC International Bank, with branches in all Central America and BAC Florida Bank, in South Florida (USA); in alcoholic beverages, Ron Flor de Caña; in transport, Casa Pellas, which also represents Toyota in Nicaragua; in technology, as partner, with 40%, of GBM, with full representation of IBM in Central America and the Dominican Republic; in entertainment, ESTESA, (40%) the leading cable television in Nicaragua; as Internet provider, Cablenet; as sugar and energy producer, Nicaragua Sugar Estates; y also as one of the largest citrus-producing estates in the world.

FERNANDO POMA
Fernando Poma is General Director of Real Hotels & Resorts. He has been responsible for the growth of hotels of the group, beginning with 9 hotels in 2001 when he took charge, and currently numbering 21. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, after graduating with a degree in Hotel Administration from the University of Cornell. Real Hotels & Resorts has operation in 10 countries and receives over 325,000 guests a year. In 2008, the group plans to operate over 25 hotels. "Central America can become an oasis in the Americas. We are of the view that with this plan we are going to distinguish ourselves. We are not tied to any brand; we analyze what is the best for each project that we do".

ALBERTO MOTTA
Businessman Alberto C. Motta has contributed in large part to the economic and social development of the country via the creation and management of large, successful businesses that have generated a significant amount of employment and opportunities for Panamanians. He has also made his presence felt through support for the development of innumerable social works via his effective participation in organizations with social impact, allowing Panamanians with scant resources to improve their health and education conditions, which translates into improved quality of life.

In particular, Motta manifests his support of and commitment to the Technological University of Panama, contributing significantly to aviation programs administered by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, since initiating negotiations with the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and the Panamanian Aviation Company, COPA.

MARTÍN TORRIJOS ESPINO
PRESIDENTE CONSTITUCIONAL DE LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ
Martín Torrijos Espino was born in the capital, 44 years ago on July 18, 1963, and is married to Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos, with whom he has three children: Daniela Maria, Martin Omar y Nicolas Antonio.

After finishing his primary studies in Panama City, he obtained degrees in Economics and Political Sciences from the prestigious Texas A&M University. Before beginning his political career, he was an economic analyst for international firms involved in communications, construction, agro-exports and the maritime industry. At the beginning of the 90s, he assumed leadership of the youth wing of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) and between 1994 and the middle of 1999, he carried out the role of Vice-minister of Government and Justice, a position in which he realized distinguished efforts in areas related to national security, civil aviation, public transport, telecommunications and the modernization of the national penitentiary system. For the last, he received recognition from the United Nations Organization and the Government of Spain.

He was sworn in as President of the Republic on September 1, 2004, by then president of the National Assembly of Representatives (National Congress), Jerry Wilson Navarro.

SHAKIRA
During her years in music, Shakira has also dedicated time to helping others. One of these efforts is reflected in the foundation created by the singer in Colombia in 1995 called Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet) which aims to help children in Colombia and third world countries. Thanks to her efforts through this foundation, the Colombian singer was chosen by UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador. Shakira has raised the foundation to such a degree that the Spanish car manufacturer, SEAT, has united with Shakira in creating a car designed by her and bearing the name Pies Descalzos which is to be auctioned in 2007 among the many Europeans with significant donations to the foundation. This year the Colombian singer also took part in the Clinton Initiative, whereby she donated - via the Alas Foundation - more than 40 million dollars to the people of Peru and Nicaragua for events taking place in both those countries and 5 million dollars more for educational projects in Latin America. Moreover, on March 29, 2008, she will take place in benefit concerts for the Alas Foundation, of which she is a member and key promoter.

Pies Descalzos Foundation
The aim of this organization, created by Shakira in 1995, is to change the conditions of education, nutrition, and coexistence of the thousands of children displaced by violence, and living in highly vulnerable conditions due to the internal conflicts experienced by Colombia.

CARLOS SLIM
Since the 1980s he has distinguished himself as an entrepreneur in myriad areas of industry, real estate and business. In 1982, Carlos Slim and his Carso Group took up active and intense investment, such that during this period they brought about diverse investment and acquisitions among which Cigatam was the first and most significant. Given its cash flow, it allowed the Group to take advantage of opportunities as they presented themselves, and amplifying the range of purchases of important companies, including: Hulera Centenario, Bimex, Reynolds Aluminio. A little later, the purchase of Seguros de Mexico was also effected, giving form to Grupo Financiero Inbursa. Towards 1985 acquired control of Artes Gráficas Unidas, Fábricas de Papel Loreto and Peña Pobre, as well as the majority of Sanborns and its affiliate, Dennys.

In 1990, he acquired Telmex, in association with SBC and France Telecom, and initiated a new stage in his entrepreneurial development in a globally strategic sector. Over the course of 16 years, Telmex has developed a world-class technological platform that has allowed it to optimize processes and to strengthen its corporate culture. América Móvil is a fine example of the creation of value for investors. From 1996 it was a world pioneer and innovator of prepaid cellular phone systems, which allowed Radiomóvil Dipsa (TELCEL) with only 35,000 clients when it privatized (1990) to go beyond 107 million cellular subscribers in Latin America by the third trimester of 2006.

Carlos Slim has discontinued most of his business consulting and currently carries out the role of President of the Board of Administration for the Promotion of Development and Employment in Latin America (IDEAL); President of the Telmex Foundation, A.C.; President of the Carso Foundation; President of the Executive Committee of the Consultative Board for the Restoration of the Historic Center, as well as President of the Historical Center Foundation.

ALVARO NOBOA
Alvaro Noboa Pontón was born in Guayaquil, on November 21, 1950 to Luis Noboa Naranjo (deceased) and Isabel Pontón Avila (deceased).

His primary education was at La Salle School in Guayaquil, while his secondary education took place at Le Rosey in Switzerland; he was a top student at both places. He graduated as a lawyer from the University of Guayaquil, and carried out advanced studies in administration at the American Management Association in New York.

He speaks fluent Spanish, English and French.

Married to Dr. Anabella Azin, he has four children: Daniel, John Sebastian, Santiago y Carla.

In 1997 he acquired the stock and control of his father's companies and, in Ecuador as well as throughout the world - Europe, Japan, New Zealand, the USA and Argentina - Noboa directs over 110 companies founded through his own initiative.

In 1996 he presided over the Monetary Board of Ecuador and, in little more than 6 months, achieved the highest monetary reserves in the country's history with an amount never seen before, of more than 2 billion dollars.

He was also the founding President of the Real Estate Brokers Association, of which he is lifelong Honorary President.

He is founder of the "New Humanity Crusade", Foundation of Community Action of the People, developing, through his own funds and businesses, important social work in education, health, employment and assistance to vulnerable groups for over 26 years.

Representing his party, he has been a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic on three occasions - 1998, 2002 and 2006 - obtaining the support of millions of Ecuadorians who opted for change through their vote, and reaching the run-offs in all three occasions for his outstanding political participation.

On September 30, 2007, Alvaro Nooa was elected to the National Assembly.

FELIPE GONZALEZ MARQUEZ
Spanish politician (Seville, 1942 -). Coming from a modest family, he received a Law Degree (1966) from the University of Seville, the city in which he worked for some time as a labor lawyer. In 1964, he became a member of the Spanish Socialists Worker's Party, and took part in the clandestine fight against the dictatorship of Franco (political persecution prompted him to take on an assumed identity, Isidoro). He rose rapidly in the party, acceding to the Executive Committee in 1970. In 1979 he took further steps in the modernization of the PSOE, forcing its official abandonment of Marxist ideology via his resignation as General Secretary. A special congress concluded in admitting his more moderate proposals and granting him total control over the party (which had gained reinforcements the previous year through the absorption of the Popular Socialist Party of Tierno Galvan).

GUSTAVO CISNERO
Gustavo Cisneros Rendiles, 56 years old, is the wealthiest man in South America. At the end of 2001, Kofi Annan, Secretary-General to the United Nations, made him "active member of the working party for the Information and Communication Technologies Division of the United Nations (ICT)". He also belongs to the directorate of the American Society of Arts of the United States and is one of the hosts of Global Business Dialogue, a format for "thinking" of all kinds of global business futures. He flies his own plane and spends many weekends in the Dominican Republic, where he owns innumerable investments. His wife, Patricia Phelps - also of one of Venezuela's wealthiest traditional families - is typically named "Best Dressed Woman of the Year".

Cisneros is an international consultant for The Americas Society, "a non-profit organization dedicated to informing United States citizens of the societies and cultures of the Western Hemisphere". In the Americas Society, he shares a role with other Latin America, such as Chileans, Agustín Ewards, Alvaro Saieh, Fernando Léniz, and Edgardo Boenninger; Venezuelan, Eugenio A. Mendoza - of the second wealthiest family of that country and third in the continent; the Brazilian, José Ermírio de Moraes, of the fourth Latin American family; the Argentine multi-millionaire, Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat, the North American, David Rockefeller, etcétera.