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Transformative Alliances: Social Contracts, Governance, and The Role of Collaboration in Latin America’s Progress

SpeakerS:

H.E. Laura Chinchilla – Co-Chair, Concordia Leadership Council; Chair, Concordia Americas Initiative; Former President, Republic of Costa Rica (2010-2014)
Federico Quinzaños – Co-Founder, El Gran Bajío
Andrés Cadena – Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Dr. Felicia Knaul – Director, Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami
Luis Carlos Velez – News Director, RCN Radio – La FM
H.E. Luis Almagro – Secretary General, Organization of American States; Leadership Council Member, Concordia
Miguel Gutierrez – Partner and Head of Private Markets, The Rohatyn Group
Margaret Spears – Deputy Assistant Administrator, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Victor Muñoz – Operating Partner, EWA Capital
H.E. Jamil Mahuad – Former President, Republic of Ecuador (1998-2000)
Fabrizio Opertti – Integration and Trade Sector Manager, Inter-American Development Bank
Alejandra Botero – Planning and Impact Development Regional Manager, CAF- Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean

Key takeaways & next steps:

  • Strengthening democratic institutions and rebuilding trust in the political process is key to driving progress across Latin America and the Caribbean. Without strong institutions and credibility, legitimate decisions are difficult to make. Trust in the political process is currently low, with only a small percentage of Latin Americans displaying confidence.
  • The breakdown of social contracts, mainly due to a lack of justice, is a critical issue. Addressing social and economic agendas requires fixing broken social contracts and enhancing justice systems.
  • Poverty remains a significant challenge, with Latin America falling short of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The focus is on effectively directing resources to have a meaningful impact and reducing poverty levels.
  • The influence of narco politics and associated security issues pose significant obstacles to progress. Addressing these issues is crucial for stability and development.
  • Structural issues like inequality and lack of long-term planning contribute to persistent social problems, including poverty.
  • Involving the private sector in addressing priorities and leveraging comparative advantages is vital for economic growth and development.
  • Incorporating new technologies and industries, such as AI and biotech, is essential for staying competitive in the global economy. Investing in skills training and closing the digital divide are crucial.
  • Collaboration within the region and with external partners, such as the U.S., is necessary to achieve common goals and foster economic integration.
  • Building trust, fostering dialogue, and improving communication channels are essential for addressing challenges and implementing effective solutions, as is a long-term vision and a focus on projects that deliver tangible results.

“Latin America will be the region with lower growth rates in the following years – suffering from polarization, social discontent, and growing mistrust. These are the conditions we need to tackle. We need to renew our social contract and get our different sectors to address and advance these political issues.”

H.E. Laura Chinchilla, Co-Chair, Concordia Leadership Council; Chair, Concordia Americas Initiative; Former President, Republic of Costa Rica (2010-2014)

“We have distributions of wealth and then we have creations of wealth. Latin American leadership – from the business, political, and social sectors – has to focus more on creating wealth.”

Federico Quinzaños, Co-Founder, El Gran Bajío

“I think that democracy is not representing the people. What people want is jobs, opportunities, and additional leisure in their lives, meaning that we have to create the conditions for people to invest in Latin America. It’s about the money.”

Andrés Cadena, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

“We live in a time where individuals can communicate and use the power of their voice in a positive way. The question, I think, is how to bring that together in a way that we realize that we can speak with one voice, as opposed to one cause at a time.”

Dr. Felicia Knaul, Director, Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami

“The most important question at hand is how to find the solutions to the main issues facing Latin America, and how to best unite in order to tackle these issues and work together. This is what we will try to uncover here today by laying forward solutions.”

Luis Carlos Velez, News Director, RCN Radio – La FM

“We have provided solutions to global problems for 200 years, but we are still facing our own problems which remain the same.”

H.E. Luis Almagro, Secretary General, Organization of American States; Leadership Council Member, Concordia

“Institutions are very important. I think institutions are a reflection of what has happened in the last several years.”

Miguel Gutierrez, Partner and Head of Private Markets, The Rohatyn Group

“Having a clear vision makes it easier for others outside to support that vision, boost that vision, and invest.”

Margaret Spears, Deputy Assistant Administrator, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

“Democracy needs to focus on the delivery. The expectation of the people is currently higher than what the government is delivering. Additionally, there is misinformation, polarization, and manipulation intensifying the division.”

Victor Muñoz, Operating Partner, EWA Capital

“In my view, the issue lies in the difficulty to deliver to the people what they are expecting from us, and the main problem of our continent is narco politics.”

H.E. Jamil Mahuad, Former President, Republic of Ecuador (1998-2000)

“The world has problems to which our region can be the solution.”

Fabrizio Opertti, Integration and Trade Sector Manager, Inter-American Development Bank

“It’s about the money, but how do we properly focus the money to have an impact?”

Alejandra Botero, Planning and Impact Development Regional Manager, CAF- Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean