London -- Honduras minister for investment Leo Starkman has been named Personality of the Year 2006 - Latin America by fDi (Foreign Direct Investment) magazine, part of the Financial Times group of London.

The annual Personality of the Year awards recognise the political and business leaders around the world who have been the most proactive, dynamic and innovative in securing foreign investment and improving the business environments of their jurisdictions. Regional winners are selected for Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America; out of these candidates a global winner is chosen.

In being named a Personality of the Year for 2006, Mr Starkman joins the ranks of such previous honorees as Mexican President Vicente Fox, Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva and Mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak. Last year's winner for Latin America was Eduardo Lizano Fait, former head of the Central Bank of Costa Rica.

"We are impressed with the determination and enthusiasm Mr Starkman shows for overcoming Honduras’ challenges and making the country more attractive to foreign investors," explained fDi editor Courtney Fingar.

The 2006 regional winners include: Patrick Ramiaramanana, Mayor of Antananarivo, Madagascar (Africa); Dato Seri Rafidah Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia (Asia); Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Wales, United Kingdom (Europe); Mohamed Alabbar, Emaar, United Arab Emirates (Middle East); and Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario (North America and Global Winner).

August/September issue of fDi

London -- Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has been named Personality of the Year 2006 by fDi (Foreign Direct Investment) magazine, part of the Financial Times group of London.

He was chosen because of his efforts to promote research and innovation, for forming strategic partnerships with the automotive industry to bring $7 billion in new auto investments to Ontario in the past two years, and for bringing forward a plan to ensure Ontario has enough electricity supply over the long-term.

The annual Personality of the Year awards recognise political and business leaders around the world who show vision and leadership in promoting economic development and growth.

Premier McGuinty is this year’s regional winner for North America as well as the worldwide winner.

In being named Global Personality of the Year for 2006, he joins the ranks of such previous winners as Mexican President Vicente Fox, Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva and Mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak.

“We have been very impressed with the province’s string of successes in attracting foreign direct investment projects in recent years, and most especially with the premier’s initiatives for boosting research and innovation,” said fDi editor Courtney Fingar, who noted that Ontario has gained 283,000 net new jobs since Premier McGuinty was elected.

About fDi:

Published bimonthly, fDi magazine is the premier publication for the business of globalisation. With a circulation of nearly 15,000 people, mainly senior-level executives at multinational corporations, fDi reports on the issues and developments that corporate executives must consider when making international investment decisions.

For more information:

Courtney Fingar

Editor, fDi

Tel: +44 20 7382 8019

Email: Courtney.Fingar@FT.com

Website: www.fdimagazine.com