HAVANA.- Cuba will host for the first time since the triumph of the Revolution a meeting of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC -the Spanish acronym is CEPAL), from May 7th to the 11th, considered the most important encounter of the regional entity.
The 37th period of sessions of the regional organization will begin next Monday at Havana’s Convention Center with the presence of representatives of its 46 member States and 13 associations said the Directive of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX), William Diaz Mendez.
The also head of MINCEX’s Board of International Economic Entities told that the majority of the participants have confirmed their presence in the event, the first held in Havana since 1959.
Alicia Barcena has been the Executive Director of CEPAL, for the last ten years. He added that the decision for Cuba to host the event was unanimous during its 36th period of sessions held from May 23rd to the 27th of 2016 in Mexico City and constitutes a forum that analyses the most relevant issues for economic and social development of the regional nations and evaluate its activities.
The report will be presented during the course of the discussions and a reflection on the advances in the strategy of development of the commitments of Agenda 2030 and the Objectives of the UN Sustainable Development.
Four panels are scheduled for Monday the 7th, stipulated National Day, among them the Implementation of Agenda 2030: Sustainable Development with Equality, responsibility of the Cuban Association of the United Nations.
The others are CEPAL’s Contribution to the economic and social ideas of Latin America and the Caribbean, responsibility of the National Association of Cuban Economists and Accountants; and Exchange on South-South Cooperation. Opportunities and lessons of Cuban experiences, UN system.
The last is a Seminar on Foreign Investment. Business opportunities and sustainable development for Cuba.
The 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are members of CEPAL, including some in North America, Europe and Asia that maintains historic, economic and cultural ties with the region.
On this occasion, the event expects the presence of its former executive secretaries Enrique Iglesias (Uruguay), Jose Antonio Ocampo (Colombia), Jose Luis Machinea (Argentina) and Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala).
Havana hosted these debates in 1949 during the 2nd ordinary period of sessions.