AmCham at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce summit.

In late July, Larry Rubin, CEO of the AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/MEXICO, attended the annual CEO summit of the United States Chamber of Commerce. This year, the event took place in Orlando, Florida.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing 2.800 chambers and more than three million businesses of every size, sector and region. Its members, 102 located abroad, not only include large associations such as the Florida or L.A. Chamber of Commerce, but also specific groups like the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Orleans and the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

"All those chambers have potential partners for AMCHAM", said Rubin. "Besides, the summit has been a great opportunity to know what's going on in the business environment not only in U.S., but also globally."

During the event, Rubin met with Thomas Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Donohue is one of the most important personalities in the United States, with influential contacts on Capitol Hill and with the Bush administration. In fact, under his leadership, the U.S. Chamber was instrumental in helping achieve passage of DR-CAFTA, the Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., the Dominican Republic and Central American nations.

Rubin also met with Winthrop Hallett, president of the Chambers Committee, and Maura Donahue, chair of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Those key contacts will make AMCHAM the first source of information for foreign investors and business people coming to Mexico", he added.

Larry Rubin's attendance at the CEO summit keeps the tradition of close relationships with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce initiated by John Bruton, who led AMCHAM for 30 years until his retirement in 2002. For his tireless efforts in promoting U.S.-Mexico trade and investment relations, Bruton, who is now senior managing director of Manatt Jones Global Strategies, was awarded at the end of March the Aztec Eagle (Aguila Azteca), the highest Mexican official decoration for a foreigner.