Latin America in global trade: Winning markets
The seminar brought together representatives from the economic and academic sectors of Latin America, including Enrique García, CAF president & CEO; Miguel Castilla, acting vice president of CAF Development Strategies; Jorge Botero, Colombian Foreign Trade Minister; Allan Wagner, Andean Community Secretary General; Robert Devlin, former manager of the IDB Integration Department; Osvaldo Rosales, director of ECLAC/CEPAL International Trade and Integration; Ernesto López Córdova, IDB Trade and Integration Department; Mauricio Cárdenas, director of Fedesarrollo of Colombia; Francisco de Paula Gutiérrez, president of the Central Bank of Costa Rica; and Néstor Stancanelli, director of the Argentine Center of International Economics, among other recognized personalities.
During the meeting, CAF announced the results of its recent reflection study, which investigates the share of Latin American economies in international trade as a key component of a development agenda for resuming quality, sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The study led to the publication of the Report on Economy and Development 2005 , which aims to stimulate debate and guide the design and implementation of public policies, destined to improve Latin America’s presence in the world, and resume growth as the basis for sustaining development and improving the living conditions of our peoples.
CAF president & CEO Enrique García said that the challenge of Latin America is to achieve inclusive, participative economic growth which respects cultural diversity and the environment. This challenge requires a renewed development agenda which improves the living conditions of society and promotes the sustained expansion of the various forms of wealth and capital of our continent.He added that with this publication, CAF contributes to the growing debate on the need to implement public policies designed to expand access to international markets and promote economic growth, with the ultimate objective of improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of the region.
The seminar also emphasized the existence of barriers that limit free trade in goods and services between countries, despite the efforts of most of the economies of the region to increase trade liberalization. The participants analyzed critical aspects of the trade negotiations, particularly sensitive issues such as the liberalization of the agriculture and service sectors, protection of intellectual property rights and trade facilitation.In 2004, CAF also published in the Report on Economy and Development series, the title "Reflections for Resuming Growth",which analyzed international participation, the productive transformation of economies, and social inclusion.
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