A solution for developing countries is to use innovative financing to create development accounts through which governments can invest in the energy sectors.
Cape Town, South Africa (PRWEB) May 16, 2016
Laurent Salvador Lamothe, former Prime Minister of Haiti was one of three lead speakers in the panel discussion on 12 May 2016—Evolving Energy Dynamics Across North, Central, and South America—held as part of the Concordia Summit on the Americas organised in partnership with Americas Society/Council of the Americas at Miami Dade College, Florida, from 12 to 13 May 2016.
The Summit served as a precursor to Concordia’s Annual Summit in New York City in September and was a very high-level gathering of public and private sector leaders who addressed the pressing political and economic priorities of the region, touching on topics including:
- democracy
- energy
- trade
- regional security
- corruption
The discussion focused on important questions amongst others: whether it is possible for decision-makers to achieve their economic and social goals while simultaneously reducing the risk of dangerous climate change, how the public and private sectors can work together on energy projects to create economic and social benefit for all, and the need for renewable energy diversification as a policy strategy.
As expected, the two days were stimulating and insightful as a large number of participants from embassies, banks, governments, strategic forums, Chambers of Commerce, private energy companies, the George W. Bush Institute, leadership forums and business and other institutions had agreed to attend and participate.
Among the interesting topics was The Future of Cuba: What Thawing US-Cuba Relations means for Business and Democracy, International Trade Policy in the Americas and Strengthening Democracy: New Challenges for New Leaders. Among the interesting people present were:
- Former Prime Minister of Spain, H.E. José María Aznar
- Former President of the Republic of Chile, H.E. Sebastián Pinera
- Former President of the Republic of Colombia, H.E. Andres Pastrana
- Former President of Uruguay, H.E. Luis Alberto LaCalle
- President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno
The panel discussion on Evolving Energy Dynamics across North, Central and South America proved to be a fertile incubator for ideas exploring energy trends and policies in the region inter alia:
- the general viability of energy, fuel, and electricity subsidies
- the reform of energy policies against the backdrop of fiscal deficits in many Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries
- the impact of subsidies on long-term growth and competitiveness
- the potential for renewable energy
Laurent Lamothe is the founder and CEO of LSL World Initiative (LSL), a leading global development advisory and consulting company specialising in the areas of Innovative Financing for Development (IFD) and “Build Operate Transfer” (BOT) modelling in the energy field. Mr Lamothe highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in energy policies throughout the Americas especially in the inopportune event of a Petrocaribe shutdown; a structure that many Latin American and Caribbean countries have come to rely on to fund their government development projects. The adoption for innovative financing for development solutions in the region is imperative. Mr Lamothe was very well positioned to do this after serving as co-chair of the Council for the Economic Development and Investment in Haiti in 2011 with the former United States President Bill Clinton.
About Laurent Lamothe
Mr Lamothe’s leadership, the design and implementation of an important social policy agenda targeting the poorest sectors of the Haitian population took place. He also oversaw the largest infrastructure development in recent memory throughout Haiti and pursued reforms to help make Haiti more business and investment friendly. His entrepreneurial spirit and dynamism earned him several coveted awards: Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” in May 2008 and more recently in 2014, Latin Trade magazine recognised his innovative skills naming him “Innovative Leader of the Americas,” observing that he “helped establish a paradigm shift for Haiti as a destination for investment, rather than simply for humanitarian aid.”
He is a pragmatist who has always emphasised concerted and practical solutions over partisan politics to address urgent developmental needs in Haiti and elsewhere, and his deep sense of responsibility resulted in the founding of LSL and has taken him to many emerging/developing countries in Africa and other countries where LSL assists governments to create additional revenue through IFD mechanisms, for their own socio-economic development.
Mr Lamothe obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Barry University, Miami and an MBA with honours from the University of St Thomas.
