The newly elected president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn, has laid out his vision and priorities to make the Washington-based financial institution the most trusted, agile, and important development partner for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
“My vision is to build on the bank’s legacy to ensure that the IDB is the most important multilateral development institution for Latin America and the Caribbean,” Goldfajn said, adding “we must be the region’s most trusted partner. A center for expertise and knowledge. A beacon of innovative solutions to our region’s challenges.”
Government representatives and members of the diplomatic community, multilateral financial institutions, academia, think tanks and the private sector were in attendance Thursday for Goldfajn’s inaugural address.
He identified social issues, climate change and investing more in sustainable physical and digital infrastructure that will boost regional integration and productivity, as the priority areas of his administration.
He pledged to “seize all opportunities for dialogue” and collaboration to build consensus among governments, private-sector partners, think tanks and civil society to help tackle pressing problems in Latin America and the Caribbean, and attract private capital.
“At this time of global polarization and uncertainty our future depends not on being confrontational, but on being more collaborative.” Goldfajn said.
He said the people of Latin America and the Caribbean “deserve better jobs, safer streets, quality healthcare, faster Internet, better public services, better infrastructure and other essential elements of life that they rightly aspire to, and yes, a sense of hope in the future.
I can’t think of any institution that can better help the region fulfill that hope than the IDB, Goldfajn said, adding that he sees Latin America and the Caribbean as contributing to help solve some of the biggest global challenges, including food insecurity and the need for clean energy.
He said producing cleaner energy would not only benefit the region but help the world meet the Paris climate goals. The IDB’s Amazon Initiative will help the world protect biodiversity and address global warming.
“When we help countries lower trade and transportation costs, we reduce the price of food and alleviate food insecurity in the region and globally.”
Goldfajn said social issues would be a priority area for the Bank’s work, including poverty, inequality in several dimensions, health needs and food insecurity.
CMC/
