Jorge Briz Abularach

Jorge Briz Abularach (born 27 September 1955) is a Guatemalan politician who served ashis country's foreign minister from January 2004 to July 2006 and president of Guatemala's Chamber of Commerce.

Born in Guatemala City, he has been a lawyer and notary, businessman, and founding member and president of the board of directors of several companies. He is also an active participant in many national and international business associations and entities involved in community work and public service. Having been a business leader throughout his career, he was appointed president of the Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala, in several periods, director of the National Exports Council (Consejo Nacional para las Exportaciones – CONAPEX), director and president of the Central American Chamber of Commerce Federation (Federación de Cámaras de Comercio del Istmo Centroamericano (FECAMCO). Likewise, he was president of the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Trade, Industry and Financial Associations (Comité Coordinador de Asociaciones Agrícolas, Comerciales, Industriales y Financieras – CACIF), director of the Hemispheric Congress of the Chambers of Commerce of Latin America, president of the Permanent Secretary of Chambers of Commerce and Industries of Latin America (Secretaría Permanente de Cámaras de Comercio e Industrias Latinas – CAMACOL) and vice president of the Permanent Committee of Expositions (Comité Permantente de Exposiciones – COPEREX).

Business leadership

He has also been a member of the Monetary Board of the Bank of Guatemala, responsible by law for establishing Guatemala's monetary policy.In that regard, he participated in financial negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank.

As a member of the national commission appointed by the national government, he was one of the subscribers of the final text of the peace accords, being elected president of the Private Sector Delegation in the Peace Talks held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, with the Commanders of the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) during the early stages of the process. He also participated in negotiations with the European Commission and European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, whose main objective was to ensure that the international community would finance programs and projects that would allow Guatemala to be able to fulfill the commitments of those accords.

Foreign Ministry

He was appointed Foreign Minister of Guatemala on 7 January 2004 and held that office until 31 July 2006. In that position, he developed policies and the application of the legal/juridical system related to the State of Guatemala with other nations, persons, and international institutions. He also organized different activities to support the victims of 2005 Hurricane Stan.

Awards and decorations

He participated in different forums and international activities, obtaining the following distinctions from different governments:

• Condecoración "Orden de San Carlos en Grado de Gran Cruz" from the Government of Colombia, 2004
• Condecoración "El Águila Azteca" from the Government of México, 2004
• Orden en Honor al Mérito en el Grado de Gran Cruz from the Government of Perú, 2004
• Condecoración "La Gran Cruz al Mérito" from the Government of Chile, 2004
• Condecoración "Orden de las Nubes Propicias con Gran Cordón", from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), 2005
• Orden de Río Branco en el Grado de Gran Cruz from the Government of Brasil, 2006
• Orden de Rubén Darío en el Grado de Gran Collar from the Government of Nicaragua, 2006

Other work

He led the Political Party Reform Movement, consolidated in the general elections of 9 November and 28 December 2003, and which resulted in the election of Óscar Berger Perdomo as president of the Republic of Guatemala.

The National Assembly of the Coalition Gran Alianza Nacional (GANA) proclaimed Jorge Briz candidate for the mayoralty of Guatemala City in August 2003; in the election of 9 November 2003 he obtained second place in the popular vote.

He collaborated in several programs that help to local communities, especially those of the rural, poor and vulnerable areas of Guatemala, such as sending the assistance to the victims of 1998 Hurricane Mitch, with coordination from the international community. He also participated in the assistance of 2001 drought victims in the communities of Camotan, Jocotan, and Chiquimula. As Foreign Minister, he supported the victims of 2005 Hurricane Stan.