Rio, November 18, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Among the major issues that guide its efforts around the world - security, growth, poverty reduction, reassessment of ways to govern the world and companies, redefinition of challenges to business, sharing of values, and respect for differences - the World Economic Forum will highlight the re-establishment of sustainable development and the reduction of poverty at the First Latin American Business Summit, which will begin November 20, in Rio de Janeiro. The information was provided today by the director-general of the forum, Fréderic Sicre.

The purpose of the institution, which was created in 1971 and is linked to the United Nations, is to bring Latin American leaders together and involve them in coherent and efficient political strategies that generate a favorable environment for business and allow the region to achieve development. The forum intends to make use of the leadership Brazil exercises in Latin America and analyze how the region can respond to global pressures.

A greater understanding on the part of global leadership about what happens in emerging countries, for the sake of establishing partnerships, explains why the majority of WEF meetings are held in developing countries, Sicre said. (DAS)