NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, March 21, 2014

Several weeks ago, the leaders of Mexico, the United States, and Canada met in the town of Toluca outside of Mexico City in order to address several pressing matters facing North America. These included trade promotion, energy development, visa and travel cooperation, border policy, the promotion of education exchanges, and regulatory coordination to ease burdens on business, among other things.

It was an important moment in the regional relationship. But at the same time, across the country in Merida, another event with at least as much importance for Latin American economic development was taking place. This was the Latin American Impact Investment Forum (Foro Latinoamericano de Inversion de Impacto), which brought together more than 300 entrepreneurs and investors interested in how to leverage private capital for social development goals.