ADVISORY/Business Leaders from the United States, Latin America and Asia-Pacific Region Gather in Miami to Discuss Pressing Trade Issues for the Pacific-Rim.

News Editors/Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (Feb. 4)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHO:         ABAC members, Gary G. Benanav, Chairman and CEO, New York
             Life International and Michael L. Ducker, Executive Vice
             President, FedEx Express International will join Hernan
             Somerville, President, Chilean Association Banks and
             Financial Institute in a press conference.

WHAT:        Media are invited to attend a press conference regarding
             pressing trade issues affecting the Pacific Rim
             including Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

WHERE:       Doral Golf Resort and Spa
             4400 N.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida

WHEN:        Wednesday, February 4, 2004
             2:00pm - 3:00pm EST

BACKGROUND:  The United States members of the Asia Pacific Economic
             Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council will host a
             half-day business symposium February 4, 2004 at Miami's
             Doral Resort, which will include a panel highlighting
             Latin American trade issues.

             The Business Symposium will kick off the year's first
             APEC Business Advisory Council meeting which is expected
             to bring 63 senior private sector leaders from around
             the Asia-Pacific region to Miami for three days of talks
             on trade issues. The APEC Business Advisory Council is
             the official organization for providing private sector
             input to the leaders of the 21 APEC member economies.

             The Miami meeting will be the first of four ABAC meetings
             in 2004, with the last one scheduled to coincide with
             the APEC Leaders' Meeting in Santiago, Chile.  Chile
             assumes the chair of both APEC and the ABAC in 2004.