BUENOS AIRES, Argentina--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Members of the Latin American Business Council (CEAL), an organization representing business owners from 20 countries in the region, agreed to continue to “strengthen the code of ethics and transparency of their businesses, and ensure they comply with the code,” according to the organization’s president, Camilo Atala Faraj. In addition, “to implement best practices related to the prevention, detection, and monitoring of wrongful acts within their organizations.”
On August 24th, during their Second Extended Board Meeting in Buenos Aires, CEAL members discussed Ethics and Business Transparency, and the fight against corruption, with presentations from renowned experts, such as Dr. Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
During the discussion, “Can businessmen contribute to the fight against corruption?”, Dr. Moreno Ocampo said that, “being an honest businessman is not enough - a businessman must be honest and active” in the fight against corruption. “Not only do you need to have goodwill, but you also need economic incentives” to encourage social actors to become part of a network that battles against this crime, added the former Prosecutor.
Political funding and institutional corruption were also addressed during the meeting, as leaders discussed the region’s challenging political and economic situation.
Members also received an update on CEAL’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020, which aims at contributing to strengthen the rule of law, democracy, protection of private property and freedom of speech, free enterprise, human rights, sustainability, and education.
Aiming for Transparency
In this context, Atala said that the meeting provided a strategic overview in the plight for increased transparency, stating that the region is living through complex times, as “wrongful acts threaten the integrity of institutions, free trade, business stability, and the trust we place in our countries’ political, legal, and economic systems.”
He also pointed out that, “transparency policies encourage the integrity”, of public institutions, companies, and society.
Atala emphatically urged CEAL members to honor the organization’s mission: “to work for a greater Latin America, by strengthening the reliable and constructive role of the private sector in our countries.”
For Latin America’s private sector, the lack of transparency deeply harms competitiveness, legitimacy, and the trust in our democracy.
Likewise, Atala highlighted the importance of education as a tool to prepare future generations of businessmen and today’s young entrepreneurs.
“Education is key, and I don’t only mean schooling, but also education that helps to strengthen citizen values, respect for laws, and democratic institutions,” added Atala.
About CEAL
The Consejo Empresarial de América Latina, CEAL, is a corporate network founded 28 years ago to stimulate the active participation of the private sector in the socio-economic development of its member countries, regional integration and educational cohesion.
CEAL is integrated by more than 500 corporate leaders and 20 countries that work together to promote commercial exchange. Currently, member countries are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.
For more information, please visit www.ceal.co.
