Oversight Board to discuss P.R.’s economic development
José Carrión chairs the Oversight Board, which will hold an all-day public meeting today.
The Oversight Board’s sixth public meeting taking place today at the Puerto Rico Convention Center will focus entirely on the topic of Puerto Rico’s economic development, the federally appointed body announced Thursday.
The all-day meeting will feature panelists representing a diversity of sectors, who will offer Board members their perspectives on how to restore economic growth on the island.
The meeting’s agenda will commence with a macroeconomic overview panel featuring Andrew Wolfe, adjunct professorial lecturer for the School of International Service, American University; José Joaquín Villamil, chairman of Estudios Técnicos; and Gustavo Vélez, president of Inteligencia Económica.
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló will present his administration’s “Plan for Puerto Rico” as the island’s foundation for economic growth. He will be followed by Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner, Jenniffer González, who will address the challenges and opportunities of implementing the Report of the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico.
The panel “Infrastructure as a Key Component for the Economic Development of Puerto Rico” will feature Oversight Board Deputy Executive Director Ramón M. Ruiz; Puerto Rico Public Partnerships Authority Executive Director Omar Marrero and Neyssa Varela, former president of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the Associated General Contractors.
Testifying on behalf of the Third Sector as an Engine of Economic Growth will be Nelson I. Colón-Tarrats, president, Community Foundation of Puerto Rico; Rafael Cortés-Dapena, president, Angel Ramos Foundation; Nilda Morales, president of Society, Education and Rehabilitation of Puerto Rico de PR; and Samuel González-Cardona, president of United Way of Puerto Rico.
The director of the Graduate School on Social Sciences of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Elsie Ruiz-Santana, and the director of the Graduate School on Psychology of the UCPR, Ilia C. Rosario-Nieves, will present their recent study on the impact of migration in Puerto Rico as part of the panel dedicated to the challenges and opportunities around the Puerto Rican migration. Isabel Rullán, co-founder of ConPRmetidos, will also join the discussion.
The panel on “Education and Training the Workforce for Economic Success” will feature Manuel J. Fernós, president of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico; Gretchen Manzanal, president, Liceo de Arte y Tecnología; and Ernesto Vázquez-Barquet, president, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.
Clarissa Jiménez, president of the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association; Agustín Arellano, CEO of Aerostar Airport Holdings; and Jon Borschow, Chairman of the Board, Foundation for Puerto Rico, will make presentations on the subject of how the tourism sector can impact economic growth.
On the subject of “Reinvigorating Puerto Rico’s Manufacturing Base” the Oversight Board will hear from Felipe Palacios, chairperson, Puerto Rico Pharmaceutical Industry Association; Kerri Ingalls, vice president Amgen Manufacturing Ltd., Juncos; and Lucy Crespo, CEO, Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust.
The concluding panel will focus on “Energizing Puerto Rico’s Private Sector to Drive Economic Growth” and will include presentations from Ignacio Álvarez, president, Banco Popular; Sebastián Vidal, executive director, Parallel 18; Josen Rossi, managing partner, Aireko; Alberto Lugo, president, Invid; and Ricardo Álvarez-Díaz, president, Puerto Rico Builders Association.
On Thursday, the Board invited individuals, businesses and organizations from all sectors to send their ideas and recommendations on how to restore economic growth to Puerto Rico via the its website www.oversightboard.pr.gov under “economic development” or via email [email protected].
All testimonies will be available on the Board’s website shortly after the deadline, unless confidentiality is requested. The Oversight Board’s meeting will stream live via: www.oversightboard.pr.gov y www.juntasupervision.pr.gov.
