WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC), in partnership with Events DC, presented its Sixth Annual Embassy Celebration Dinner Series on Tuesday, November 18th at the Carnegie Library at Mount Vernon Square. During the event program, the GWHCC launched its international initiative entitled "Promoting Trade of the Americas," and honored the Embassy of El Salvador and its Ambassador, Francisco Altschul, with the Public Service Award. Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, Assistant Secretary General at the Organization of American States (OAS), served as this year's Embassy Dinner Honorary Chair.
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"I am aware that this prize is much more than an honor to me personally but a recognition and reminder of those who need public services," said Ambassador Altschul. "In that sense, this Award is all about our Hispanic community, Salvadorans included. I especially accept this award with an abiding faith in my Salvadoran community, for its amazing endurance to turn adversity into opportunities, and for their never-ending quest for freedom, justice and prosperity. We all have the opportunity to contribute to the success and strengthening of our great community. They need opportunities. We all, practitioners of the public service in the private and public domain, can be part of that success," he added.
"The 2014 Embassy Dinner was a very successful and special event for the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and our community at-large. This year the Chamber recognized the Embassy of EL Salvador for its great service and crucial assistance to many Salvadorans and Hispanics in the Washington, DC metropolitan area," stated Mario Acosta-Velez, Chairman of the GWHCC Board of Directors. "In addition, we were honored to have Ambassador Albert Ramdin as Dinner Chair and Congressman Ben Ray Lujan who spoke about the importance of trade among the Americas," added Mario Acosta-Velez.
During the event Board member and Chair of the GWHCC International Initiative, Syddia Lee-Chee, announced our initiative entitled "Promoting Trade of the Americas" before more than 200 guests and online viewers. "We are honored to have had the presence of distinguished leaders, as the event represented the perfect platform to launch our international initiative, aimed at helping our members and Hispanic owned businesses to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the implementation of Latin American and the US Free Trade Agreements," said Ms. Lee-Chee. "The information shared with the audience by the Dinner's guest speaker, Panama Ambassador to the OAS Jorge Miranda, was very informative, including Panama hosting The Summit of The Americas in 2015, as we move forward with our plans to organize future Trade Missions to Latin America, including one to Panama," she added.
Attendees included representatives from Latin American embassies, U.S. political and business leaders, and distinguished guests such as the Congressman Robert Garcia, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, and Roberto Saladin, former Ambassador of the Dominican Republic and 2012 Public Service Award honoree.
The GWHCC remains committed to recognizing and honoring Latin American leaders and organizations who work to better international trade and commercial affairs in the Western Hemisphere.
About the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a 501(C) 6 membership driven organization, founded in 1976, that supports the economic development of the Greater Washington metropolitan area. The Chamber facilitates the success of Latino and other minority-owned businesses and the communities they serve through networking, advocacy, education and access to capital. For additional information visit our website www.gwhcc.org
