Latin America Leadership Program

Extractive industries are essential components of the economies of many countries in the region. When projects are well implemented, preserve the rights of affected people and its benefits are well managed, extractive industries can contribute to sustainable development and economic opportunities. However, the impact of extractive industries can also represent a serious challenge to the people impacted negatively by their activities. In recent decades, the importance of extractives industries in Latin America and the Caribbean has increased, with countries seeking to provide a stable investment climate, diminishing legal and regulatory framework, and limiting taxes on private companies. This has accelerated rates of economic growth but it has also been accompanied by significant levels of corruption, social conflict and environmental damage, in some cases undermining democracy and the human rights of many people in the region.

How can extractive industries and government regulation balance local expectations with national development plans and calibrate industry regulations and investment promotion? How can stakeholders (policymakers at all levels, civil society, multinational corporations) maximize the benefits of extracting resources, while minimizing the risks of corruption, resource-curse ills, violation of human rights and environmental degradation? How can a favorable investment/business environment be created without sacrificing long term national interests, or jeopardizing local goals and rights?

This conference, organized by the different Latin American students’ organizations at Georgetown University and sponsored by Georgetown University’s Latin American Initiative, brought together researchers, practitioners and community leaders from throughout the region to help think through this difficult yet poignant questions.