A Luncheon Briefing by H.E. Norman García Ambassador-Designate of Honduras  to the United States Thursday, August 25, 2005 12:00 Noon  (11:30 a.m. networking reception) Plimsoll Club, 30th Floor, WTC (Free validated parking in the WTC Garage)

About CAFTA

The U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) was approved last month by the U.S. Congress. President Bush signed it into law on August 2. The agreement has now been formally ratified by the U.S., El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and is expected to be submitted soon to the Congresses of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua for their final approval. When implemented in the coming months, CAFTA will eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers and expand regional opportunities for the manufacturers, workers, consumers, farmers, ranchers, and service providers of the participating countries.  For additional information about CAFTA, the best websites to visit are at the U.S. Department of Commerce at www.ita.doc.gov/cafta and the U.S. Trade Representative Office at www.ustr.gov.

About Norman García

Prior to being named as ambassador by Honduran President Ricardo Maduro, Norman García was the Minister of Trade and Industry of Honduras from 2002 to 2005. He previously served as Executive President of FIDE (Fundación para la Inversión y Desarrollo de Exportaciones – Foundation for Investment and Development of Exports), a foundation that works to promote investment for the export of Honduran non-traditional manufactured products. From 1998 until 2000 he was the Minister of Tourism of Honduras. Ambassador-Designate García also previously held positions with Industria Hondureña de Televisión, S.A. (INHTEL) and Corporación Nacional de Inversiones (National Investment Corporation). He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from California State Polytechnic University.