Carlos Slim’s call to action
As participants gathered for the conclusion of the New York Forum, each person received a note card on their seats. Participants were asked to propose one concrete solution for the G20 summit.
The first business leader during the closing plenary to respond to the NYF’s call for action was Carlos Slim Helú, Chairman, Carlos Slim Foundation and Chairman, Telmex Foundation. In a conversation with Maria Bartiromo of CNBC, Slim expressed his views on the global economy, and the need for continued investment in broadband communications.
Bartiromo asked Slim what he saw as the key issues in the global economy.
“We’re living in a new civilization of services – digital,” he said. “The new civilization of technology has new paradigms. Developed nations are buying a lot of goods from developing economies. They are not producing and creating income. That’s why the developing countries like Asia and Latin America [are rising].”
“Telecommunications is the nervous system throughout the world,” he continued. “There is a lot of area to grow in broadband. Broadband will be very important for the new society. High penetration, good quality, high speed, low cost. You make it a universal service.”
Bartiromo joked with Slim about the average retirement age in France being 59.
“Crazy!” Slim said. “I should have retired 50 years ago.”
He went on to joke that maybe he would be able to retire in another 25 years or so.
