NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mario Garnero, Chairman of Brasilinvest, Brazil's pioneer merchant bank, conferred on James Wolfensohn, former president of the World Bank, the 'Global Leadership Award' on behalf of Forum das Americas and UNA-Brazil, two not-for-profits led by Brasilinvest's Chairman.
The Award was given during the III Sustainable Development Forum, held this week to a group of 500 business and political leaders at the Harvard Club (Harvard Hall) in New York.
Joined at the stage by Spanish entrepreneur Cristina Valls-Taberner, who sits at Brasilinvest's Global Advisory Board, Garnero hailed Wolfensohn's professional trajectory as that of a true global statesman. Garnero added that "Wolfensohn's voice at the current scenario of economic uncertainty sounds a message of serene realism, sizing-up global challenges with precision and therefore crafting solutions on solid ground." Garnero stressed Wolfensohn's sharp sensibility and poise, "enhanced by James being an accomplished cello player."
As James Wolfensohn saluted his decades-long friendship with Garnero, he spoke on the delicate financial outlook for the coming months and the need for economic reinvention in the next few years. "The rise of China is perhaps the single most important trait in the economic landscape, one to which all countries will have to adapt. Hard work, savings and innovation are the ways to lead Europe and the US out of the crisis," he added.
James Wolfensohn governed the World Bank from 1 January 1995 to 30 June 2005, a period of robust growth for the global economy.
Wolfensohn's speech and Award were greeted with a standing ovation by the entire audience, whose first-row attendees included former US President Bill Clinton; Michel Temer, Vice-President of Brazil, James D. Dondero, President of Highland Capital Management and Philippe Douste-Blazy, President of UNITAID.
Contact: Anamelia Meirelles
anamelia@brasilinvest.com.br
T: 55 11 3094 4000
SOURCE Brasilinvest
