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The Inter-American Development Bank will hold its Annual Meeting in Barranquilla, Colombia  in a virtual format, on March 17-21, with the participation of authorities and leaders from the public and private sectors. The meeting will discuss the unprecedented challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean as it rolls out its vaccination efforts and lays the groundwork to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Annual Meeting will feature eight seminars that analyze what is needed for the region to emerge from the pandemic on a stronger footing than before, in the areas that include infrastructure, the digital economy, the sustainable potential of the Amazon, women empowerment and connecting the region with global supply chains. In addition, the IDB’s Board of Governors, which is the Bank’s leading decision-making body and represents its 48 member countries, will discuss the role of the IDB in a recovery with urgent social needs and difficult fiscal situations.

The IDB is the largest provider of development finance and technical know-how for Latin America and the Caribbean. Most of the Governors are finance or economy ministers. The IDB Group comprises of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which provides resources and financing to the public sector, IDB Invest, which focuses on private sector operations, and IDB Lab, the Group’s innovation laboratory.

The Board of Governors of IDB Invest will discuss the role of the private sector as a key driver of an inclusive and sustainable economic recovery. On its fifth-year anniversary after consolidating the IDB Group’s private sector windows, IDB Invest is uniquely positioned to reignite growth in the region by partnering with companies and investors to achieve sustainable impact. 

During the event, the IDB will release its annual macroeconomic assessment of the region, which this year will focus growth opportunities in the context of fiscal restraints.

In the seminar Build the Americas: Infrastructure Linkages for Economic Recovery, leaders from the public and private sectors will discuss the impact of infrastructure services on job creation and the transformation of supply chains in our region. Participants include Gloria Hutt, the minister of Transportation and Telecommunications of Chile, and Angela María Orozco, the minister of Transportation of Colombia.

The Future is Creative seminar will look at how the hard-hit creative industries ecosystem can rebound from the pandemic and contribute to the region’s recovery. Panelists include Colombia’s minister of Culture Felipe Buitrago and Chilean filmmaker Maite Alberdi.

After the Pandemic, How to Build Back Inclusively will look at using technology to achieve better social services, more effective health care, and personalized education as the region emerges from the pandemic with lost lives, income and learning. Speakers include Lucia Dellagnelo, President of the Innovation Center for Brazilian Education and Cecilia Gordano, CEO of Mercer Argentina.

The Women Growing Together in the Americas will address challenges faced by women-led businesses to participate in global value chains. The event will feature the launch of an initiative to empower women entrepreneurs, with strategic partners from the private sector. Speakers include Marta Lucía Ramírez, the Vice President of Colombia, and top officials from Mastercard, Walmart International, Accenture and Americas Society/Council of the Americas.

Sustainable Development of the Amazon Region will bring together private and public sector leaders to discuss a joint vision for attracting more sustainable investment to the Amazon region, and the upcoming launch of the IDB Group’s Amazon Initiative. Speakers include President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, President of Colombia Ivan Duque, IDB President Mauricio Claver-Carone, and top officials from Amazon basin countries.

Innovation for Inclusion: The Multiplier Effect of the IDB Group Innovation Lab looks at using flexible tools and experimenting with scalable innovations to spur social inclusion innovation, particularly for vulnerable populations. Panelists include senior officials and leaders from Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Spain and Guatemala, among others.

The Digital Talent panel – featuring private sector representatives from Google, {reprogramar} and officials from Uruguay and Costa Rica – will look at how digital skills can act as a cornerstone for creating more and better job and income-earning opportunities.

The Investment and Strengthening of Regional Value Chains as an Engine for Economic Recovery panel will present the opportunities Colombia offers to firms considering locating their operations in the country. It will also analyze the policies and investments that governments need to prioritize in order to take advantage of the reconfiguration of global value chains. Speakers include the President of Colombia, Ivan Duque, OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurría, IDB President, Mauricio Claver-Carone, and representatives of multinational corporations.

Members of the news media may register  for the event before March 15, 2021. Only registered media will receive information about virtual press conferences and other media availabilities. While some members of the IDB´s senior management team will travel to Barranquilla, there will be no in-person events for the media.

More information is available at the Annual Meeting website.

About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.

About IDB Invest
IDB Invest, a member of the IDB Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of $13.1 billion in asset management and 385 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries.