The organization of CIJUEGO 2011 gave way to the meeting with an integration lunch.
Later, Manuel San Roman Benavente, engineer and General Director of MINCETUR, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, opened the summit as the maximum authority, expressing his gratitude to the assistants for join to his initiative and work to strengthen the industry in the continent.
After a brief presentation of every one of the associations present and the description of the current situation of the sector in their respective countries, Fernando Calderón, Presidente de SONAJA, Constante Traverso, President of APEJA, José Rodolfo Ospina, Manager of ASONAIT, María Augusta Díaz, President of ANPASJU, Juan José Tropea, Executive Director of CAIJA, Pedro Vivanco, Secretary of the COT, Antonio Alfaro, President of ASAJA, Rocío Albornoz, Executive Director of FECOLJUEGOS and Jimena Montoya, President of ACOJA, opened the summit highlighting the importance of games of chance as an entertainment option rooted for centuries in the collective image of the people. Today it is the source of economical development generating thousands of employments and important taxes for the State budgets.
They also highlighted their compromise to “Promote and impulse legislative initiatives which would allow to develop the gaming industry, support all the governmental organizations and in the development of regulating policies to strengthen the activity, respecting the Constitution, freedom of entrepreneurship, free competence and the right of every person to decide how to enjoy his free time.”
They equally expressed their decision to support operators ho are currently in an unstable juridical situation due to the absence of adequate regulations, with the purpose of achieving their rights and continuity of their operations. In the sense of promoting training to the officers and administrative personnel, they also declared to report any illegal games and take measures to promote responsible gaming.”
As important witnesses and managers of the event, Eddie Thornberry and Cristina Sierralta from SONAJA and Joaquin Ortiz from COT also participated in the summit. At the end of the event a document was signed known as the Lima Declaration, which besides the general principles stated above, they agreed to constitute the International Confederation of Gaming Associations, of which the present association become founding members.
Also, SONAJA is appointed as the President of the Summit to verify once again in Lima, on June 6 and 7, 2012 once again at the III International Gaming Congress.