Latin American business people met here to discuss proposals for boosting economic growth in the region ahead of the scheduled 4th Summit of the Americas, the local media reported on Wednesday.

The business people will present a document on business initiatives to the Americas Summit to be held on Friday and Saturday in Mar del Plata, 400 km south of Buenos Aires.

The initiatives include the free movement of workers, the promotion of private investment in government projects and improvement of education.

Participants in this so-called Hemispheric Meeting of the Private Sector include outstanding entrepreneurs such as the richest man of the region, Carlos Slim from Mexico, and political leaders such as Salvadoran President Elias Antonio Saca.

The Salvadoran leader said the role of the governments is not hampering the private sector.

Ernesto Gutierrez, president of the forum, noted the role of the governments, saying they need to "attract both local and foreign investment."

Slim, owner of the Mexican telephone company TELMEX, said Latin American governments should make healthy economic policies, cut expenditure and promote private investment.

He also said the fight against poverty is an economic need for Latin American countries and is the best investment.

Secretary General of the Organization of American States Jose Miguel Insulza said there are too many poor people in Latin America despite the economic growth in the region.

He said it is necessary for governments and business people to double efforts to increase growth and improve the situation of the poorest groups.

Source: Xinhua