CWA Speaker Story: Jose De La Fuente
Jose De La Fuente is an international consultant who will be coming all the way from Chile to the 2018 Conference on World Affairs. Jose first heard about the Conference on World Affairs through a customer of his consulting firmÌýand because his work brought him to Denver,Ìýhe was able to meet the CWA team.
After attending high school and college in the United States, Jose began his professional work in back in Chile but quickly transitioned to more international jobs. Jose will be participating in many different panels about international business and trade, and we are thrilled to have him join us at this year's event!
Jose De La Fuente will attend the 2018 CWA
What is the most rewarding part about your job and what is one of the more difficult parts?
The most rewarding part of my job is being involved in so many different business, different cultures, and different industries. There is never a dull moment or time that that I don’t learn something new. This is also the most difficult part – specifically when dealing with Latin America. Everybody thinks it’s just one Hispanic culture, but we are almost like Europe. Latin America is different, even in the languages spoken.
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Do you feel that US’s current trend toward protectionist trade policies will hurt economic growth in Latin American countries?
US Trade and Investment ties with Latin America were already lost back in the 1970’s and 80’s. Most investment in the region’s infrastructure, banking, telecommunications are already European. The key Latin American trade allies are with Asia, and the US is only number the top trade partner for Mexico and some Central American countries. TheÌýkey economies from South America are very influenced by Europe, so the US’s protectionist trade policies will mainly only have an effect on Mexico.
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As an international consultant, you certainly have a very busy schedule. Why do you feel the CWA something that is important to make time for?
The Conference on World Affairs is an event that is almost the United Nations of culture, business, education, art and every other aspect of what is important for our generation and generations to come. There is really no venue like the CWA: a week featuring all-encompassing coverage of who and what we are. Being asked to participate was an honor and was definitely not something I was going to let pass by.