Medellin.- Ex-president of the Dominican Republic LeonelFernandez on Thursday said China’s economic slowdown could be an opportunityfor Latin America and Caribbean countries, many of which he affirms are in direstraits after years of bonanza.
Speaking in one of the panels in the World Economic Forumfor Latin America, which began Thursday in Medellin, Fernandez said China’s slowdowncould lead to shifts in manufacturing toward Latin America and the Caribbean,as well as opportunities for strategic alliances aimed at reviving the region’seconomy and sped up its development.
The panel of experts involved included Spanish government presidentFelipe González, and former Colombia president Ernesto Samper, among others.
The Forum aims to compile ideas to restore growth in theregion, whose economy will contract 0.5% this year, according to the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF).
During the panel, Fernandez and other Latin Americanparticipants reviewed aspects of the economy, politics and future prospects,stressing the political crises looming over Brazil and Venezuela.