Moderator
Paul Fekete is the Senior International Trade Advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He primarily focuses on the development of trade-related technical assistance programs to support USAID Missions in building public and private sector trade capacity and promote developing countries’ participation in the international trade system. Prior to joining USAID in 2010, he worked for over 25 years as a consultant providing trade advisory services, technical assistance, training, and institutional strengthening and capacity building for various entities such as USAID, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the World Bank (WB). He holds an M.A. in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University’s Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a B.A. from Bates College. He is also an adjunct assistant professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School where he teaches graduate courses on international economics, U.S. trade policy, and policy formulation.
Speakers
José Raúl Perales is the Deputy Director of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF). He oversees a team of experts involved in the design and implementation of all in-country projects and serves on the management team of the Alliance. Before the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Perales was the Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, advising on the impact of policies on the private sector and enhancing strategic communications for homeland security. He also led initiatives on trade facilitation and Cuban affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA), and was a trade policy adviser for Puerto Rico, engaging in regional and multilateral trade negotiations. Additionally, Perales taught at George Washington University and contributed to publications on trade policy and Latin American development. He holds a B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico and undertook doctoral studies at the University of Michigan.
Aurelio García, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)'s Trade Head of Programs since 2017, leads trade facilitation initiatives focusing on Information Technology (IT) and digital innovations to enhance government trade processes globally. With 20 years of experience in over 25 countries, he specializes in using technology and automation to improve trade, competitiveness, and process simplification, particularly in developing nations. His leadership fosters a skilled team dedicated to modernizing trade practices through digital transformation. García's background includes roles in Spanish Small and Midsize Enterprises' (SME) export-import departments, an M.B.A. in Finance from George Washington University, a Masters in International Trade, and an Agile project management certification from the University of Maryland.
