Moving People and Goods through “The Accelerating New Global Economy”
On January 14-15, 2016, Meridian International Center partnered with international law firm Squire Patton Boggs to co-host a summit on “The Accelerating New Global Economy: Transportation, Trade and Security.” Spanning two-days, the summit brought together international business leaders, US government officials, public policy experts, and the diplomatic community to discuss the latest developments in the transportation, trade and security sectors.
More than 25 panelists shared their perspectives on the challenges which are being faced by key stakeholders in the transportation and security arenas, with the exponential growth of global trade.
Colombian Ambassador Juan Carlos Pinzón and Meridian Chairman and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez analyzed the confluence of trade and transportation from a macro-level. Public-private partnerships, intelligent transportation systems, the data-driven economy and hot lanes (high-occupancy and fast-moving lanes) were among the topics explored by Walmart Senior Vice President for Transportation Tracy Rosser, General Manager, Transurban North America Jennifer Aument, and ITS America President and CEO Regina Hopper among others.
Day two of the summit focused on both domestic and international issues related to infrastructure and the movement of people and goods.
U.S. Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Gregory D. Winfree and Squire Patton Boggs Counsel Patricia Doersch elaborated on the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), the first long-term transportation bill passed by Congress in a decade, as well as prospects for drone regulations in the upcoming Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization.
Speakers reiterated the need for the entire Western Hemisphere and trading partners in the Americas to closely monitor the expansion of the Panama Canal, as Panamanian Deputy Chief of Mission Karla Gonzalez announced that the project is slated for completion in the second quarter of 2016. Ms. Gonzalez underscored the need for ports along the East Coast of the United States to be ready for both larger vessels and increased maritime shipping. China’s footprints in Africa and Asia were also a major discussion area as Stimson Center Senior Associate Yun Sun shared key information on China’s One-Belt, One-Road infrastructure initiative, which is geared to stimulate China’s economy domestically and within the region. Former Ambassador of Ghana to the United States Koby Koomson shed light on China-Africa relations and emphasized China’s focus on the continent, as well as the “inattention” of the United States to Africa’s growing infrastructure needs.
In conjunction with the summit, Meridian and Squire Patton Boggs also hosted a private salon dinner around the theme of transportation, trade and security. Meridian President and CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday and Squire Patton Boggs Partner and former Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater facilitated the conversation with distinguished guests from government entities such as the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Embassy of Chile as well as leaders from businesses that are thriving in the data-driven economy, such as Acxiom and the transportation network company Lyft.
Full list of speakers for “The Accelerating New Global Economy Summit: Transportation, Security and Trade”:
- Jennifer Aument, General Manager, Transurban North America
- Joseph L. Brand, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
- Steve Boyd, Founder & VP External Affairs, Peloton Technology
- Blaine Collins, Vice President, Government &Public Affairs, DNV GL
- Michael A. Curto, Washington DC Office Managing Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
- Gregory R. Daniels, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
- Patricia Doersch, Of Counsel, Squire Patton Boggs
- Hon. Thomas S. Engle, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs, U.S. Department of State
- Liz Fine, EVP, Legal & General Counsel, Empire State Development Corporation
- Karla P. Gonzalez, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Panama in the United States
- Hon. Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez, Chairman, Meridian International Center & Chair, Albright Stonebridge Group
- Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Washington DC Office, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
- Hon. Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday, President & CEO, Meridian International Center
- Regina Hopper, President & CEO, ITS America
- Jerry C. Jones, Chief Ethics and Legal Officer, EVP and Assistant Secretary, Acxiom
- His Excellency Koby Koomson, former Ambassador of Ghana to the United States
- Ann J. LaFrance, Partner and Data Privacy Cybersecurity Industry Group Leader, Squire Patton Boggs
- Bob Morin, Senior VP, Business and Product Development, Export-Import Bank of the United States
- His Excellency Juan Carlos Pinzón, Ambassador of Colombia to the United States
- Tracy Rosser, Senior VP, Transportation, Walmart Patton Boggs
- Lee Satterfield, Executive Vice President, Meridian International Center
- Hon. Secretary Rodney E. Slater, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
- Brian Starer, Senior Partner & Transportation, Shipping and Logistics Industry Group Leader, Squire
- Yun Sun, Senior Associate, Stimson Center
- James F. Thompson, Group Chief Executive Global Programs, AECOM
- Hon. Gregory D. Winfree, Assistant Secretary, Research & Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation
Project summary
| Moving People and Goods through “The Accelerating New Global Economy” | January 2016 | |
|---|---|
| Number of Attendees: | 60 |
| Regions: | Western Hemisphere, East Asia and Pacific, Africa, Europe and Eurasia |
| Impact Areas: | Transportation, Business and Trade, Security and Defense |
| Program Areas: | Diplomatic Engagement |
| Partners: | Private Sector |