Dear Members of WAIPA,It is an honor for me to address all WAIPA members as the newly elected President of this important Association. In a very fruitful meeting in Ghana, WAIPA members have engaged in a constructive dialogue to pave the way for an ever stronger institution. During that meeting, a new Steering Committee has been elected and a President has been chosen to head WAIPA for the next two years.

WAIPA faces important challenges and great opportunities in the years to come. The challenges refer not only to the Association itself, but to current world investment climate that affects all our members. The opportunities, nevertheless, are increasingly important as WAIPA enlarges its scope and membership, sets up new partnerships and becomes better equipped to provide world-class products and services for its associates.

After holding consultations with many WAIPA members, it is my understanding that the future of WAIPA depends on the implementation of very concrete activities on different areas. These activities have a great potential to enhance WAIPA’s worldwide awareness, influence and importance.

WAIPA can be taken up to a higher level if it is able to design and develop the proper building blocs in key areas,

which we believe to be: networking, capacity building and institutional strengthening. In each of those areas, a series of actions must be taken so that a more result-oriented WAIPA can be forged. I would take this opportunity to highlight the importance of institutional strengthening and of a particular initiative to be taken in that area. I am deeply convinced that WAIPA can strengthen its ties with various international organizations and take advantage of its large membership to raise resources, develop new projects, and deliver meaningful results for its members.

WAIPA has to live up to its potential. I am fully committed to make it happen and I am convinced all the Steering Committee Members are also deeply engaged in this joint effort. I call upon all WAIPA members to actively participate in this important exercise, as I do believe a stronger WAIPA benefits all of us. I welcome you all to unite efforts in this journey!
 

Sincerely,

Alessandro Teixeira
President, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)
President, Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil)

Please click here to read Alessandro Texeira's profile

Waipa president has been named fDi Personality of the Year 2008 – Latin America

The Brazilian Alessandro Teixeira, Waipa and Apex-Brasil president has been named fDi Personality of the Year 2008 – Latin America. Published by the Financial Times Group in London, fDimagazine is the premier publication for the business of globalisation - with a highly targeted circulation of more than 15,000 corporate decision makers, mainly senior-level executives at multinational corporations.

Each year, with the Personality of the Year awards, Financial Times recognise the political and business leaders around the world who have been the most proactive, dynamic and innovative in securing foreign investment and improving the business environments of their jurisdictions. Regional winners are selected for Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America.

In being named a Personality of the Year, Alessandro Teixeira join the ranks of such previous winners as Mexican President Vicente Fox (2003), Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva (2004), Mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak (2005), Premier of Ontario Dalton McGuinty (2006) and Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath (2007).

Teixeira and the other regional award winners are featured in the August/September issue of fDimagazine (see a PDf of the article).

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