GGI Conference Review
GGI Latin American Regional Conference, Panama City, Panama, 06-09 June 2024
This year’s Latin American Regional Conference kicked off with a very special event – on Thursday evening, hosting GGI member firm Quijano & Associates invited all participants to their Panama offices to celebrate their 65th anniversary.
Claudio G. Cocca, GGI Founder and Chair, Dr Miguel Mantelli, Regional CEO Latin America, and Carla Rojas Pardini, from Quijano & Associates, opened the conference on Friday morning and warmly welcomed all participants. The conference hotel The Santa Maria, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort provided a comfortable and luxury base for our gathering.
Julian Rivera Rios, from GGI member firm FRG Auditores y Consultores S.A.S. (Columbia), delivered a thought-provoking and timely presentation on artificial intelligence (AI) and how to apply it in our daily business. In an increasingly digitalised world, AI has become a fundamental pillar in various aspects of daily and business life. Julian analysed how AI is revolutionising tax and financial management activities, and offered innovative and effective solutions. Finally, he addressed the crucial question of whether and how AI alone can assist us in our daily tasks. His talk provided food for lively discussions.
Dr Jorge Marcos Garcia Landa, from GGI member firm Corporativo García Landa SC, Contadores Públicos y Abogados (Mexico), continued the morning with a presentation on Valuation of Intangible Assets and their financial, legal and fiscal effects. Be sure to read his article on this topic in the latest GGI FYI ITPG News. He addressed many questions in step with actual practice to encourage participants to scrutinise their practice.
David Carrasco, from GCG member firm Statesman Business Advisors, LLC (USA), continued after lunch with a talk on “Maximising Enterprise Value for Latin American SMEs: Essential Strategies and Practical Approach". Amid a dynamic and challenging Latin American business environment, he explored how company valuations are influenced by key factors such as corporate governance and capital structure. David examined how the timely institutionalisation of an established company in the market can be a crucial strategy to maximise its valuation before a capital market transaction. He also reviewed how corporate finance strategies can transform the Latin American business landscape and improve shareholder wealth.
Trinidad Morán Herrera, from GGI member firm Visa and Go (Chile), presented on Latin American international mobility. Migration is a phenomenon with great demographic, social and economic impact in the world, and Latin America experiences high levels of migration between countries in the region, and to North America and Europe. More than 41 million Latin Americans live outside their country of origin, making the region the one with the largest number of migrants in the world. Trinidad talked about how designing a life and investment project without borders is possible.
Engineer Andrés Felipe Ochoa, from GGI member firm OCH Ochoa Consulting Holding SAS (Colombia), spoke on the topic: “It's a Shame that the Happy Meal Doesn't Work for Us”. This was an unmissable talk about the difficulties those of us who do not sell Big Macs have, and who work in the difficult task of marketing services that few clients want to buy, some of them would prefer not to have, while at the same time adding value to what perhaps is one of the most complex consumers in all marketing environments: the Latin American entrepreneur. The new challenges of our firms involve creating real value to build proposals that, even without a happy meal, produce the same emotion in our buyers, with even better results than the child's fleeting smile.
The day ended on Friday with a wonderful dinner at the hotel restaurant AQUA.
On Saturday morning several interactive Practice Group meetings were held: Fernando Lopez, Mowery & Schoenfeld LLC, led the International Taxation Practice Group (ITPG) meeting. Prof Sergio Guerrero Rosas, Guerrero y Santana, S.C., ran the Trust & Estate Planning (TEP) Practice Group meeting.
Just before lunch, Dr Miguel Mantelli closed the conference.
After an exciting afternoon programme, the conference ended with the closing dinner at Legend Casco Viejo, a luxury waterfront location with marvellous views.
Contact Dr Miguel Mantelli, if you wish to receive further photos of this conference.
