October, 2017

Post Archives

Chile: A Digital Country

Monday, October 30th, 2017

Chile: A Digital Country
Presented by the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce
Presented in Partnership with Select Greater Philadelphia, KPMG, Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ProChile, and Chiletec
October 23rd, 2017
6:00 – 8:00 PM
KPMG LLP

On Monday, October 23rd the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia hosted a group of Chilean IT innovators for the unveiling of Chile’s newest technology brand, Ch1l3: A Digital Country. The new sector brand is the creation of multiple Chilean IT companies, in partnership with ProChile, and is represented by four different founding partners: Agence, Linets, Tecnova Global Solutions, and Ki Technology, as well as Chiletec, the chamber of tech companies in Chile. The reception was one stop of a three part tour of the US made by the innovators during an international campaign to promote their new services platform.  Attendees gathered to witness the official unveiling of Ch1l3 and network while enjoying hors d’oeuvres as well as a variety of different Chilean wines and pisco.

Honorary Consul of Chile for Philadelphia, Benjamin Leavenworth, began the evening by stressing the important relationship between Chile and the Greater Philadelphia region.  Leavenworth noted that Chile is a strong, innovative country that has produced a number of mature tech brands including those in attendance. Following Leavenworth’s introduction, Philadelphia Managing Partner of KPMG LLC, Frank Mattei took center stage.  Mattei elaborated on the importance of global networking and wished all in attendance a successful evening.

Rodrigo Contreras, Head Economic Department & Trade Commissioner of ProChile D.C., was the night’s third speaker.  Before introducing the brand’s founding partners, Contreras expressed his satisfaction with Chile’s ability to export more than just raw materials as part of the fourth industrial revolution.

As Martin Lewit of Nisum Latin America made his way toward the microphone, it was time for the official unveiling of Ch1l3: A Digital Country.  A short video was shown which described the brand’s function and expressed its importance and relevance to companies in the U.S., explaining that the two countries shared very similar technological cultures.  Following the unveiling, additional members from the brand’s founding partners, including Agence, Linets, Tecnova, and Chiletec introduced themselves and the organizations they represent.

Shortly after, guest speaker Patrick Millar of Love Park Robotics LLC was introduced. Millar expressed his fondness for Chile both as a tourist destination and as a source of qualified and experienced tech innovators. He then began speaking to the growing success of E-commerce and Robotics in the Philadelphia area, also citing the influence of the fourth industrial revolution.

Before Benjamin Leavenworth retook the stage to close the evening, Sylvie Gallier-Howard welcomed the delegation on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.  Gallier-Howard thanked those in attendance and spoke about the growing tech scene in Philadelphia, noting that the new tech brand would prove to be a valuable partner to our city. Benjamin Leavenworth then announced the winners of the night’s wine and pisco raffle.  Leavenworth proceeded to thank those in attendance and encourage anyone to reach out with any inquiries before closing the evening’s presentations.

Thank you to KPMG for graciously hosting us in their space and to Select Greater Philadelphia for partnering with us on this event. Also, gracias to ProChile for kindly providing the Chilean Pisco.

For more photos of the unveiling of Chile: A Digital Country, please visit our Flickr page.

To read more from AL DÍA News, click here.

20th Annual “Friend of Chile” Awards Luncheon: Honoree Spotlight

Thursday, October 26th, 2017

20th Annual “Friend of Chile” Awards Luncheon
Friday, November 17, 2017
The Union League of Philadelphia | 140 South Broad Street | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chilean Wine Tasting & Reception 11:30 a.m.
Luncheon & Awards Celebration 12:00 Noon

Receiving the 20th Annual “Friend of Chile” Award: The Honorable Tom Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania

Governor Tom Wolf grew up in south central Pennsylvania in a small town in York County, where he continues to live today.

Tom studied Government while Dartmouth College.  Before graduation, Tom decided to join the Peace Corps where he would serve two years in a small village in India.  After his service, Tom returned to Dartmouth College to finish his undergraduate degree, and would later go on to earn graduate degrees from both the University of London and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Tom was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s 47th governor on January 20, 2015, and has since devoted himself to working tirelessly to help the people of the state of Pennsylvania.

In addition to his work with the middle class, education, and healthcare, Tom’s economic development team has made major accomplishments in regards to Pennsylvania business relocation and expansion projects.

Last November, Governor Wolf announced plans to invest $300 million in the Port of Philadelphia as part of a comprehensive Capital Investment Program. This investment works to improve the port’s facilities, and therefore invest in our region’s trade partnership with Chile. Tom’s belief in the Port of Philadelphia has allowed the port to double its container capacity and increased its capability to work more efficiently with more opportunities for growth in the future, all while creating thousands of jobs in the process.

The investment is one of the largest among east coast ports and raises Philadelphia’s prominence in the shipping world. Chile is the Port of Philadelphia’s 5th top trade partner; from January to August in 2016 trade with Chile rose 3.05 percent to over $850 million. With the new improvements and expansion to the Port of Philadelphia, the region’s trade with Chile and the economic benefits associated with commerce will only continue to rise.

Receiving the 2017 “Lifetime Achievement” Award: Robert Palaima, President of Delaware River Stevedores, Inc.

As President of Delaware River Stevedores, Inc., Robert W. Palaima has forged his company into a vital force along both sides of the Delaware River.  Deeply committed to the success of the Ports of Camden, Philadelphia, and Wilmington, Robert has played a significant role in negotiating labor agreements to dramatically increase port competitiveness.

A native of Chicago, Robert attended Colgate University as a War Memorial Scholar, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Since 1988 he has worked for Delaware River Stevedores, Inc. (DRS), becoming President in 1990.  He was responsible for leading his company into dramatic reorganization in 1992, transforming it into a major stevedore of bulk, breakbulk, perishable and containerized cargoes.

In 1993, Robert was recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a recipient of the inaugural Forty Under Forty award.  In 1997, he received the Scout Mariner Award from the Cradle of Liberty Council, Boys Scouts of America; in 1998, he was honored as Man of the Year by the Port of Philadelphia Maritime Society.  In 2000 he was honored by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey for his work in the Port of Camden and in 2007 he was the recipient of the Friend of Chile Award from the Chilean American Chamber of Commerce, where he presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors.  The Traffic Club of Philadelphia named him Person of the Year in 2013 and most recently, he received The Legion of Honor Humanitarian Award from The Chapel of Four Chaplains.

Long active in civic and maritime affairs, Robert serves on the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Maritime Society and the Board of Managers of the Seamen’s Church Institute.  He also chairs the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Marine Trade Association, served on Liberty Mutual’s PA Advisory Board as well as on the Board of Governors of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, and has helped raise scholarship funds for the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Among his accomplishments, Robert has been a key player in retaining important commodities for the Port including cocoa beans, Chilean fruit, steel, plywood, wood pulp, automobiles, and project cargoes.

For more information or to register for this event, click here.

20th Annual “Friend of Chile” Awards Luncheon

Monday, October 9th, 2017

The Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce cordially invites you to attend the 20th Annual “Friend of Chile” Awards Luncheon.

Please join the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce to honor our award recipients as we celebrate and recognize the strong and deep commercial and trade partnership between the Greater Philadelphia region and the Republic of Chile.

Click here for sponsorship opportunities

Friday, November 17th, 2017
11:30 AM – Chilean Wine Tasting & Reception
12:00 PM – Luncheon & Awards Celebration

The Union League of Philadelphia
140 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Receiving the 20th Annual “Friend of Chile” Award
The Honorable Tom Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania

PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards will accept the honor on behalf of the Governor.

Receiving the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award
Robert Palaima, President, Delaware River Stevedores, Inc.

Click here for registration

For more information, contact Christina Lista at 215-790-3627 or [email protected].

Chile: A Digital Country

Monday, October 2nd, 2017

Chile’s New National Technology Brand – Philadelphia Launch Event

Did you know Chile has the most internet users* in all of Latin America? Named the “most innovative country for early-stage entrepreneurs,” Chile also takes the top spot in all of Latin America for best business environment, overall competitiveness, and most economic freedom.

Join us on the evening of October 23rd for the official unveiling of Chile’s new technology brand and meet the innovators behind the rapidly-developing technology hub of Latin America dubbed “Chilecon Valley.”

Register Here

Monday, October 23rd, 2017
6:00-8:00 PM
KPMG
1601 Market Street, 36th Floor
Philadelphia, PA

Special guests include:

Martin Lewit
General Manager, Nisum Latin America

Carlos F. G. Arruda
CEO, Agence

Juan Pablo Reyes
CEO, Linets

Cristian Ferrer
CEO, Tecnova Global Solutions

Roberto Mérida
International Manager, Chiletec

Keynote Speaker: Patrick Millar, COO, Love Park Robotics, LLC

*as a percentage of its total population

 

Presented by:

 

 

Presented in Partnership with: