This week, Rio de Janeiro hosts the Latin America World Economic Forum, and Latin America Aero & Defense (LAAD 2009). The first event, the Latin American version of the renowned meeting of rich and emerging countries, began yesterday and ends tomorrow, at the Hotel Intercontinental Rio. LAAD opens today and runs until Friday, at Riocentro exhibition center. Riocentro, located in Barra da Tijuca, will be an important venue if Rio is awarded the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

These two meetings reaffirm the city’s vocation for hosting international events. The Latin America World Economic Forum brings to Rio more than 500 business, political and academic leaders from more than 35 countries. Debate centers around the theme “The implications of the global economic crisis for the region,” which was also the subject of the event’s opening speech, given by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“The meeting takes place at a crucial moment for Latin America. After the recent G-20 summit in London, the event is an opportunity for participants to debate the region’s responses to the global economic crisis in concrete terms,” stated Emilio Lozoya Austin, director of the forum. Leonel Fernández, president of the Dominican Republic, and Álvaro Uribe Velez, Colombian president, are among international leaders participating in the meetings, in addition to a large number of Brazilian ministers.

Another international event taking place in Rio this week is LAAD, which is expected to attract around 16,000 visitors. The most important event in the defense and security sector in Latin America brings together around 300 exhibitors from more than 30 countries. This year, the expo is taking up a record area in Riocentro, with 15 percent more space than at the last edition in 2007.

Two other events are taking place in Rio this week. The II Defense Seminar is a forum for specialists and guests to debate a wide range of themes in the sector, while the IV International Symposium on Military Logistics, which involves senior officials from Brazil and abroad, sees discussion on the expansion of military logistics culture.