14th AIB-LAC Conference concludes with an Emphasis onSustainability and Resilience

The Academy of International Business in Latin America and the Caribbean (AIB-LAC) Conference
concluded its 14th annual conference in Jamaica on March 22. This illustrious gathering, spanning a triad
of days, commenced in Kingston with a prelude conference and opening ceremony at the University of
the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus on March 20, culminating in a climactic close at the Jamaica
Pegasus Hotel.

Embraced under this year’s conference theme “Rethinking and Reshaping the Role of Business in
Creating a More Sustainable and Resilient Latin America and the Caribbean,” this year’s convocation
placed an indelible emphasis on sustainability. This focus mirrors the organization’s unwavering
commitment to the cultivation of sustainable business ethos. Lead by Jorge Carneiro, AIB-LAC President
from FGV, Brazil, the conference benefitted from the erudition and insights of luminaries such as Mario
Henrique Ogasavara from ESPM, Brazil, Elizabeth Moore from Northeastern University, USA, and
Co-chair Indiana Minto-Coy from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica.

The agenda was initiated with a pre-conference expedition through the UWI Campus, an ode to its storied
heritage, followed by a cocktail reception. Day 1 of the conference kicked off with salutatory remarks
from distinguished guests including Fernanda Cahen, Associate Professor of International Business at
ESPM, Brazil; Ricardo E. Buitrago, Associate Research Professor at EGADE Business School, Mexico;
alongside an address from the esteemed Most Honourable Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in
the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

Subsequent panel discussions and presentations traversed a broad spectrum of pivotal themes, from the
ethics of business conduct and transnational entrepreneurship to the nuances of family-owned enterprises in the Caribbean and the metrics of sustainability.

The event afforded attendees a reflective juncture to assimilate the plethora of insights proffered and to
weave networks for forthcoming collaborative ventures. As the 14th AIB-LAC Conference adjourned, the
resolve to pioneer sustainability and resilience remains the beacon guiding the future course of business in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The conclusion of the conference highlighted the substantial support from its sponsors, among them
Grace Kennedy, CARI-MED Group, Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ), the Jamaica National Group
(JN), and Deloitte. Further conversations explored the imperatives of multistakeholder action for inclusive
development and the intricate ramifications of expatriation experiences.

The keynote oration, delivered by Gail Moss Solomon, General Counsel and Chief Corporate Secretary of
Grace Kennedy Limited, delved into the realms of corporate governance and sustainability practices with
acuity and foresight. The event reached its zenith with the conferral of awards and the announcement of
Mexico as the venue for the 2025 conference.