OEA - CIDI - Resolución CIDI INF 702

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

Inter-American Council for Integral Development

(CIDI)

OEA/Ser.W CIDI/INF.701/26 4 February 2026

Original: English REMARKS BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, ALBERT R. RAMDIN, DELIVERED DURING THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT (CIDI), HELD ON JANUARY 30, 2026REMARKS BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, ALBERT R. RAMDIN, DELIVERED DURING THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

INTER-AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT (CIDI),

HELD ON JANUARY 30, 2026

Ambassador Edison Lanza, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the OAS and Chair of the InterAmerican Council for Integral Development (CIDI), Distinguished Permanent Representatives, Ambassadors, Delegates, It is a pleasure to join you at this first meeting of the 2026 session of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI). This is made even more special by virtue of the fact, as Ambassador Lanza pointed out, that we are meeting only a day after the 30 th anniversary of the date that this body officially began its work as the OAS’s principal organ for integral development. Ladies and gentlemen, economic development is foundational to the mission of our Organization. Not just because it is an OAS pillar, but rather because without economic opportunity, productive investment and job creation, our aspirations to a democratic and safe hemisphere cannot be sustained. Across the Americas, people are asking not only whether democracy exists in principle, but whether it delivers—whether it creates opportunity, mobility, and dignity. Economic development is the bridge

between democratic values and lived reality. I have encountered this relationship throughout my professional life, including during my time as the Representative of Suriname to CIDI. What has changed is not the insight itself, but its urgency. Today, in an environment marked by disinformation and declining trust in institutions, the link between economic development and democratic legitimacy has become impossible to ignore. This connection is also well established in academic research. A few months ago, Daron Acemoglu, one of the world’s most prominent economists and a Nobel Laureate, in his keynote address celebrating the 24th anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, underscored the relationship between strong democratic institutions and inclusive economic growth, resilience, and social development across the region. When economic systems exclude large segments of society, political systems become fragile. When growth is inclusive, democratic legitimacy is strengthened. This insight is particularly relevant for our Hemisphere today. Latin America and the Caribbean face a convergence of challenges: slow growth, persistent inequality, informality, technological disruption, climate vulnerability, and shifting global trade and investment patterns. Yet we also face historic opportunities—nearshoring, digital transformation, renewable energy, creative industries, and a new generation of entrepreneurs. CIDI is where these opportunities ought to be translated into cooperation, policy, and action. And while the OAS is not a development bank nor a regulatory authority, we are the trusted hemispheric convenor. We create space for governments, the private sector, workers, educators, and innovators to come together—to align incentives and build solutions that no single actor can deliver alone.- 2The private sector is indispensable in this regard. Investment, innovation, job creation, and skills development cannot happen without it. At the same time, the public sector sets the rules, builds institutions, and ensures that growth is inclusive and sustainable. We must focus on forging robust public-private partnerships grounded in trust and shared hemispheric values. This is why we have

recently launched the inter-departmental working group on the private sector and drafting a plan for their engagement. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to highlight a few examples of the sort of work the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development has done under your guidance. In the area of economic development, through the Department of Economic Development, the OAS has supported Member States in strengthening the foundations of growth by promoting small and medium-sized enterprises, advancing digital transformation, and enhancing trade and competitiveness intelligence. Initiatives such as the Americas Competitiveness Exchange bring together public and private actors, academia, and innovation hubs to connect ecosystems, share best practices, and translate analysis into concrete partnerships across key sectors. In this way, we all help turn information, cooperation, and trust into real economic opportunity. On education, the OAS has long invested in human capital through scholarships, technical cooperation, and partnerships with universities and training institutions. By aligning education and skills development with labor-market needs—particularly in STEM, digital skills, and innovation—we help ensure that young people are prepared not only for jobs, but for careers in a changing economy. Regarding labor, the OAS has supported efforts to improve job quality and inclusion through cooperation on labor standards, workforce development, and social dialogue. Programs focused on youth employment, women’s labor-force participation, and skills certification help ensure that growth translates into decent work and social cohesion. On sustainable development , the OAS has supported climate resilience, sustainable tourism, and greener growth models across the Hemisphere. By helping countries integrate sustainability into economic planning—particularly for small states and vulnerable communities—we reinforce the principle that environmental stewardship and economic competitiveness must advance together. Looking ahead, CIDI has a decisive role to play in shaping a modern development agenda for the Americas that is increasingly responsive to the needs of our citizens. This requires moving beyond

diagnosis to delivery. It means using this Council to translate shared priorities into implementable initiatives; to align public policy with private investment and innovation; to scale what works across countries and subregions; and to ensure that cooperation delivers visible results: jobs created, firms formalized, skills upgraded, and communities made more resilient. CIDI is uniquely positioned to do this work. You bring together the economic, social, educational, labor, and environmental dimensions of development in a single forum. That integration is your strength, and it is urgently needed today. Let us therefore use this 2026 session not only to exchange ideas, but to set direction, build partnerships, and accelerate action. The Secretariat stands ready to support you as a partner committed to results. From my part, I want to reaffirm my personal commitment—and that of the Secretariat—to fully support the work of this Council. To that end, I have instructed the Executive Secretariat for Integral3Development to ensure that the Chair of CIDI has a dedicated presence within its offices, facilitating direct and continuous engagement with our technical teams. I will also take a more active role in the work of this body and ensure regular engagement from the Office of the Secretary General. This support reflects my conviction that CIDI is central to the OAS’s Agenda for the Americas and to our shared effort to deliver concrete results for the people of our hemisphere. If democracy is to endure, if human rights are to be protected, and if prosperity is to be shared, economic development must work for everyone and in every part of our Hemisphere. I invite you to be ambitious, collaborative, and bold. Thank you very much.