Grupo Salinas Hosts U.S. Delegation of Journalists, Business Leaders and Political Leaders to Attend Ciudad de las Ideas Thinkers' Forum in Puebla

--New America Foundation delegation includes 14 distinguished authors and national opinion page contributors--

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Nov 08, 2010, 10:34 ET

MEXICO CITY, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Salinas, a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies deeply committed to the modernization of the countries in which they operate, is pleased to host a group of over twenty leading U.S. journalists, business leaders and political leaders who will attend the Ciudad de las Ideas thinkers' forum in the city of Puebla.

The delegates represent organizations as diverse as the New America Foundation, Partnership for New York City, TED, Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute and the International Center for Journalists.

New America Foundation fellows will also participate in a televised forum called One Mexico, or Two for the Entrevista con Sarmiento program hosted by TV Azteca Editorial Director Sergio Sarmiento.

"In addition to participating in a cutting-edge ideas festival in Puebla, this visit provides us with a timely opportunity to engage the complex and vital U.S.-Mexico bilateral relationship," said Andres Martinez, the director of New America's fellowship program and a former member of the New York Times and Los Angeles Times editorial boards.

"Our fellows are among the most talented and worldly young journalists in America, and for many of them this will be an invaluable introduction to Mexico and to what has to be Washington's least appreciated strategic partnership," Martinez added.

The trip will include high-level meetings with members of the Mexican Senate, members of President Calderon's Security Cabinet, representatives of the U.S. Embassy and executives of Grupo Salinas companies.

The distinguished visitors will later be attending a three-day forum on global ideas called La Ciudad de las Ideas. The forum, which is now in its third year, features speakers such as New Yorker columnist and best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers); Jared Diamond, winner of the Pulitzer Prize (1997) for his book Guns, Germs and Steel; and Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. Also featured will be three Nobel Prize winners: Mario Molina (Chemistry, 1995), Jerome Friedman (Physics, 1990) and Daniel Kahneman (Economics, 2002). The event includes a total of 35 speakers, who will present a ground-breaking idea during a 20-minute intervention.

"We're delighted to be hosting this talented and diverse group that can rethink many important aspects of the world we live in and how we can make it a better place," said Luis J. Echarte, Chairman of Azteca America.

Grupo Salinas has been a proud sponsor of Ciudad de las Ideas since its inception. The event is organized by the Mexican think-tank Poder Civico S.A. and curated by its president, Andres Roemer.

Grupo Salinas Profile

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, building the Mexican middle class, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include: TV Azteca (www.tvazteca.com.mx ; www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx) and Grupo Iusacell (www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings.