Luis Ernesto Derbez Bautista

Most important awards, prizes and academies
Argentina: Order of May for Merit, Grand Cross; Austria: First Class Decoration; Bolivia: Order "Condor de los Andes", Grand Cross; Brazil: National Order of the Southern Cross; El Salvador: National Order of José Matías Delgado, Grand Cross with Silver Plaque; Germany: Order of the Federal Republic of Germany, Grand Cross; Guatemala: Order of the Quetzal, Grand Cross; Honduras: Order "José Cecilio Del Valle", Grand Cross; Korea: The Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, Gwanghwa Medal; Nicaragua: Order "Ruben Darío", Gran Cross; Paraguay: Extraordinary Grand Cross; Peru: Order "El Sol del Peru 1821"; Sweden: Royal Order of the Seraphim - Royal Order of the Polar Star; Spain: Order "Isabel la Católica", Grand Cross. Member of the Board of Directors of BANCOMEXT (Mexican Bank for Foreign Trade). Main objective: to determine public policies and address particular cases of credit and financing; Member of the Board of Directors of PEMEX, Mexico's state oil company; Member of the Board of Directors of P.M.I. PEMEX International; Member of the Council of CONACYT (National Council for Science and Technology). Main objective: to establish national policies for scientific and technological innovation in order to support national development; Member of the Council of the National Prize for Science and Technology. This Prize was instituted in 1990 by the President's Office, as an acknowledgment to leading scientific and technological activities in Latin America and the Caibbean, Spain and Portugal, to encourage ties among the scientific communities of Iberoamerican countries; President of the Mexican Commission for Cooperation with Central America. Main objective: to promote, coordinate, evaluate, fund and develop programs, projects, and cooperation activities that the Mexican Government has set with Central American and Caribbean countries. Since 2008, President of the University of the Américas Puebla (Mexico).

Summary of scientific research 
B.A. in Economics, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis, Mexico; Master's degree in Economics, University of Oregon (1974); Ph.D. in Economics, Iowa State University of Science and Technology (1980). Visiting professor, The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington D.C.; Professor of Economics and Head of the Econometric Research Unit of the School of Business and Economics, "Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey" (ITESM); Professor of Economics and Academic Vice-chairman, Universidad de las Américas, Puebla (UDLA). 2003-06 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico; 2000-02 Mexican Minister of Economics; Co-Chair of the economic transition team of President Elect, Vicente Fox Quesada; Head of the Mexican Delegation at the High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, New York 2005; President of the Ministers' Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), 2005; Chair of the fourth Ministerial Meeting which started negotiations on a Framework Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (FAPRPI), Panama City 2005; Chair of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, Paris 2004; Chairman of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, Cancun 2004. His knowledge and track record as Foreign Minister, put to the test at the United Nations Security Council during the Iraq crisis, together with his extensive experience in economics and finance, gives him not only a comprehensive perspective of the complex regional and global challenges, but also a shrewd political vision and ability in management administration. Independent consultant, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank 1997-2000; Head of a group of consultants who advised the Governments of Honduras and Nicaragua on economic recovery and infrastructure rehabilitation programs after the destruction caused by hurricane Mitch; Private consultant, Alfa, Vitro, Visa, Serfín, Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Group and for the governments of the states of Guanajuato and Veracruz. On both ministerial portfolios Mr. Derbez has made important contributions to women's rights and gender equity issues (ECLAC Conference on Women, 2004; Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities). Likewise, he has showed great awareness and commitment towards civil society participation and engagement in public policies, which have open unprecedented options for non governmental organizations, academia, experts and private enterprise to contribute to the discussions and proposals of new lines of action which have a direct impact on development, poverty alleviation and a more fair and balanced international trade and justice system. Private consultant to FEMSA and, since 2007, to Ford Motors Co.; Bombardier and Grupo Banastre, since 2009; Member of the World Bank's Advisory Group. Mr. Derbez has encouraged and supported the strengthening of Mexico's bilateral economic relations, giving the highest priority to regional and sub-regional efforts, which seek to increase cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean in various fields. He has granted a significant importance to trade negotiations with MERCOSUR. He has also given a high priority to the Asia-Pacific region. Mexico seeks to consolidate its position in Asia through the establishment of strategic alliances with relevant countries, particularly China, Korea, India and Japan. Mexico has negotiated and signed an Agreement of Economic Association with Japan. In the case of Korea, Mr. Derbez was instrumental in establishing a Group of Experts for the Strengthening of the Bilateral Economic Relations which recommended negotiating a Strategic Agreement on Economic Complementation, that should include the liberalization of trade on specific areas in order to contribute to increase and balance bilateral trade flows, promote and facilitate trade on services and investment, together with bilateral economic cooperation. Mr. Derbez has provided effective leadership in strengthening Mexico's economic relations with China. Under his guidance, Mexico is also in the process of negotiating several agreements with India. Mr Derbez worked at the World Bank for fourteen years as Manager of diverse regional development projects in Latin America, Africa, and South Asia - particularly India, Nepal, and Bhutan. He also participated implementing structural adjustment programs in Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala, and putting into practice multilateral economic support programs. He was also the main author and supervisor of macroeconomic reports on the countries under his responsibility, and also of sector reports in the areas of finance and banking.