WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 12, 2007 - The World Environment Center (WEC) today congratulated the White House for organizing a Conference of the Americas. The one-day conference, held on July 9, brought together business, non-governmental and political leaders from over 30 nations in North and South America to discuss and review strategies for improving opportunity and the quality of life in the region.

U. S. President George W. Bush led a "Conversation on the Americas." U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson participated in a dialogue on expanding economic opportunity, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered remarks on building a future of hope and opportunity in the Americas. Other participants included leaders of non-governmental and non-profit organizations, the private sector, foundations, community-based organizations and civil society leaders. Additional topics discussed included the promotion of public-private partnerships, education and health care.

Ernesto Samayoa, Chief of Party in WEC's El Salvador office, represented WEC at the Conference. "WEC's Alliance for Private Sector Competitiveness, with its focus on successful integration of supply chains to achieve energy efficiency and reduced resource consumption, creates growing capacity for achieving sustainable development and opportunity in Latin America," he noted.

WEC currently implements initiatives to expand sustainability practices in the beverage, petroleum and sugar industries in partnership with the El Salvador Ministries of Economy, and of Environment and Natural Resources. Funding for these activities is also provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

World Environment Center

World Environment Center

The World Environment Center advances sustainable development through corporate business practices. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Europe and Latin America, WEC creates business solutions through Executive Roundtables on key sustainability challenges, builds capacity of small enterprises in emerging markets, and honors industry excellence through its annual Gold Medal Award. WEC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization. For more information, please visit www.wec.org.

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