XIII Regional Conference on Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic

Venue: Real Intercontinental Hotel, San Salvador, El Salvador

July 23-24, 2015

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government of El Salvador will host the XIII Regional Conference for Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic on July 23-24, 2015 in San Salvador. The focus will be on the macroeconomic outlook for the region, including the effect of monetary policy in the United States, as well as policies for inclusive growth, experience with fiscal responsibility frameworks, and the benefits and risks from growing financial integration. The conference will bring together central bank governors, finance ministers, and financial sector superintendents of the region, as well as senior officials of the IMF and other multilateral organizations.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015
7:00–9:00 p.m.

Reception - Salon Arboleda

Thursday, July 23, 2015
12:00–2:00 p.m.

Informal Lunch - Salon Maquilishuat
2:00–2:30 p.m.

Inauguration- Salon Real

Opening Remarks:

  • Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Deputy Managing Director, IMF
      Opening remarks

  • Salvador Sánchez-Cerén, President of El Salvador
 

Closed session begins, by invitation only—media withdraws
2:30–4:00 p.m.

Session I. Central America: The Road Ahead

Speakers:

  • Lorenzo Figliuoli, Division Chief, Central America Division, IMF
      Presentation (Spanish)
  • Ana Corbacho, Deputy Division Chief, South America Division, IMF

Moderator:

  • Luis René Cáceres, Economist, Researcher of Central American Economies

Questions and Discussion
4:00–4:30 p.m.

Coffee Break
4:30–5:30 p.m.

Session II. Peru: Experience with Fiscal Policy Management

Speaker:

  • Luis Carranza, Head of Economics Department, Universidad San Martin, and Former Minister of Economy and Finance, Peru
      Presentation (Spanish)

Moderator:

  • Luis René Cáceres, Economist, Researcher of Central American Economies

Questions and Discussion
7:00–10:00 p.m.

Dinner – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Salon de Honor

Introduction:

  • Roberto Lorenzana, Technical and Planning Secretary of the Presidency of El Salvador

Keynote speaker:

  • Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Deputy Managing Director, IMF
      Speech

Friday, July 24, 2015
9:00–10:00 a.m.

Session III. The Netherlands: Experience with Fiscal Institutions

Speaker:

  • Laura van Geest, Director, Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis
      Presentation

Moderator:

  • Edgar Barquín, Former President, Central Bank of Guatemala

Questions and Discussion
10:00–11:00 a.m.

Session IV. Normalization of U.S. Monetary Policy and its Implications for Mexico and Other Emerging Markets

Speaker:

Moderator:

  • Edgar Barquín, Former President, Central Bank of Guatemala

Questions and Discussion
11:00–11:30 a.m.

Closing Remarks:

  • Marlon Tábora, President, Central America Monetary Council
  • Alejandro Werner, Director, Western Hemisphere Department, IMF
  • Sergio Recinos, Acting President, Central Bank of Guatemala
11:30a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Press Conference - Salon Roble
  Press release
12:00–2:00 p.m.

Informal Lunch - Salon Maquilishuat