CIFAL Atlanta in partnership with Airport Council International (ACI) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) hosted its 42nd training seminar titled “Airports and Economic Development: Latin America and the Caribbean” on March 24-25, 2011 in the city of Atlanta, USA.

This seminar, designed around intensive two-day training provided a platform for business executives and airport leader from 37 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean to share knowledge and best practices. The utilization of airports as economic development tools to secure a positive economic impact on a local jurisdiction or a region, while ensuring safety and security is a key objective of the program.

The program addressed several critical topics such as:

- International security regulations and requirements
- ICAO Annex 17
- Fostering operational excellence/ cargo logistics
- Embracing technological innovations
- Enhancing airport competitiveness

A selected group that included general managers and high level airport executives engaged in a dialogue on airports as economic development engines. The discussions were facilitated by international airports authorities/representatives, leading academics, service providers, technology experts and representatives from the private sector. This allowed for valuable networking and insightful informational exchanges that lead to the identification of economic opportunities and partnerships. In addition to high level discussions, the seminar included demonstrations, tours, and site visits.

This seminar was the first of a series of regional seminars that aim to provide decision makers from Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa with tools and innovative strategies to best leverage their local resources, infrastructure, and airport operations to spur long-term economic development in their respective regions.