The IDB Annual Meeting, whose deliberations will focus on the challenges posed by the pandemic and keys to recovery, this year will feature Colombia as the protagonist, not only because it will be from the thriving city of Barranquilla, but above all for the undisputed leadership that our country has acquired in the regional and international context.
A position recognized not only by decisions with impact in the region and in the world, such as the Temporary Statute for the Protection of Migrants, but also because our country today holds the presidency of important organizations such as the Andean Community of Nations, the Pacific Alliance, recently established the Forum for the Progress and Integration of South America (Prosur) and, now, the IDB Board of Governors.
The competition will be held from March 17-21 and will be attended – virtually and in person – by authorities and leaders from the public and private sectors of the region. For Colombia, the host of the meeting, the agenda has a special interest in four fundamental issues for our government: regional integration, climate change and biodiversity, sustainable economic reactivation and digital government.
As a prelude to the meeting, on Tuesday, March 16, we will be chairing Prosur’s extraordinary session where we will discuss strategies to deal with the crisis caused by the pandemic, we will share the efforts to start the vaccination and that will we do. develop mechanisms to accelerate economic recovery.
During this IDB meeting, a series of agreements, agreements and loans will be negotiated for the country, in several key sectors for the economy and development.
In the context of the Assembly, we will also take an in-depth look at the situation of Venezuelan migration, an event organized by Canada, which chairs the Conference of Solidarity with Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees, and we will listen to experiences around the ‘Investment and regional value chains as an engine for economic recovery. ‘
The meeting agenda naturally has a strong environmental component. The program includes deliberations on ‘Sustainable Development of the Amazon’, ‘Colombia and the Caribbean: Climate Resilience’, ‘Colombia’s Road to COP26’ and ‘The PreCOP15 of Biodiversity, the Amazon and Biodiversity’.
On Tuesday, we will present the technical studies for the procurement of the Magdalena River project, delivering on a promise in the campaign: restoring navigability in this important river corridor, a milestone for Colombian infrastructure. We will also present at the Assembly the book ‘Energy Transition: A Legacy for the Present and Future of Colombia’, which explains why our country is today a regional leader in non-conventional renewable energy sources.
Likewise, it will be the opportunity to formalize the beginnings of the modernization and digital transformation of the justice system in Colombia, in response to Colombians’ calls for more efficiency and coverage.
And a topic that should not be missed in the discussion week is the orange economy. That is why at events like ‘The future is creative’ we look at the impact of the pandemic on creative industries, but at the same time at the emergence of innovative proposals.
During this IDB meeting in Colombia, a series of agreements, agreements and loans will be negotiated for the country, in several key sectors for the economy and development. And at the close of the competition, we will open the event ‘The new stock agenda after the pandemic’.
The agenda of the IDB 2021 meeting is undoubtedly of enormous importance to our country as it will contribute on several fronts to promote the Commitment to Colombia, a roadmap designed to promote social investment, job creation and clean growth and sustainable, and continue to support Colombians, especially the most vulnerable.
IVÁN DUQUE MÁRQUEZ
President of Colombia