III Forum on the Future of Latin America: the Young Leaders’ Vision

(Buenos Aires, August 10, 2012). In Buenos Aires, CAF – Latin American development bank- and the Torcuato Di Tella University (UTDT) of Argentina called on more than 40 young leaders from the region’s public and private sectors to attend the III Forum on the Future of Latin America: the Young Leader’s Vision.

The purpose of this CAF initiative is to promote knowledge of issues having to do with the region’s development and integration, contributing to the forming of a new critical mass of young people with Latin American interests and a global vision.

The event, opened by Ernesto Schargrodsky, the rector of UTDT, and Enrique García, the president and CEO of CAF, counted on the participation of prestigious panelists, among them José Antonio Ocampo, Columbia University; Nora Lustig, Tulane University; Eduardo Levy Yeyati, a professor at UTDT and CIPPEC; Mario Bergara, the president of Banco Central del Uruguay; Juan Manuel Abal Medina, the head of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Argentine Government; and Mónica Hirst, National University of Quilmes.

The discussion focused on the new international economic order and its implications for Latin America and also on the challenges facing the region in this new stage of emerging prominence in the global scenario.

CAF’s president and CEO highlighted how important it is for CAF for young people to take part in a broad, plural debate on the main challenges the region faces today in order to achieve sustainable growth over the long term.

“The growth that Latin American has shown in recent years faces a series of insufficiencies in social, institutional, productive, infrastructure, and financial matters. The region has also shown that it is lagging considerably behind in issues having to do with innovation, enterprise, and the adoption of new technologies, as well as in the development of a green economy,” commented Enrique García.

“In this context, CAF sponsors the generation of an extensive network of young Latin Americans who are committed to the future of their countries and the region as a whole and who promote innovative ideas for new development models,” he added.

CAF’s initiative includes promoting and fostering projects coordinated by young people; investment and training programs for young people at risk; the promotion of democratic and political values and also young leadership; creating and supporting networks with different education and job training establishments; support for youth networks and specialist publications; implementing a CAF Youth Observatory and Social Action Programs through Music and Sports; and other activities.