Trinidad and Tobago, New Chair of the OAS Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI)

OAS Authorities alongside the Permanent Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago and Bolivia to the OAS, Ambassadors Neil Parsan and Diego Pary

“Integral development is one of the four core pillars of this organization, but it can be argued that because of its multifaceted nature, it is the determinant in how we progress as a region in the other primary areas of our focus – democracy, security and human rights. Rich or poor, north or south, developed or developing, we all simply want a better future for our peoples,” stated Ambassador Neil Parsan, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the OAS, as he assumed the leadership of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) on July 9, 2014.

The CIDI is a permanent forum for member states to discuss and follow-up on development issues. Through its different regular and sectorial meetings, it serves to promote the exchange of policy and technical cooperation in the region. In assuming the chairmanship, which was transferred from Bolivia, Ambassador Parsan welcomed this year’s General Assembly focus on “Development with Social Inclusion” and noted that for his government, “such an agenda must include specific priority areas for action that are crucial in actualizing a sustainable, competitive and diversified socio-economic environment.”  

In his speech, Ambassador Parsan highlighted priority areas such as innovation, inclusion and equality, education, and the incorporation of entrepreneurship and ICTs in a diversification agenda, among others. These areas will drive the discussions on development for the next six months at the OAS, as the organization also prepares to complete a busy schedule of high-level Ministerial Sectorial meetings in the framework of CIDI, including Culture (August in Haiti), Tourism (September in Barbados) and the Americas Competitiveness Forum – ACF (October in Trinidad and Tobago).

In this regard, the concurrence of Trinidad and Tobago as the host of the VIII ACF and Chair of CIDI during the second semester of 2014 will surely permeate the discussions on development held at OAS headquarters in Washington DC. It is not a coincidence that the theme of the ACF “Human Imagination at Work: Driving Competitiveness, Powering Innovation” chosen by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago resonates with Ambassador Parsan’s emphasis on innovation and human development. Innovation in education, energy and the services sector are topics that will also be addressed during the ACF in Trinidad and Tobago.

The ceremony was held at OAS headquarters and included the participation of Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza; Ambassador Diego Pary, Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the OAS and former Chair of CIDI; Ambassador Sonia Merlyn Johnny, Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the OAS and Chair of the Permanent Council, and Sherry Tross, Executive Secretary for Integral Development (see picture). During the event, Ambassador Parsan thanked the Bolivian diplomat, Ambassador Pary, for “translating the vision of his government for the development of our hemisphere by means of a meaningful dialogue with member states through the mechanism of CIDI”.

July 22nd marked the first Regular Meeting of CIDI under the Chairmanship of Trinidad and Tobago. Addressing Member States at OAS headquarters, Ambassador Parsan referred to the work ahead in the next months and proposed three key areas of focus to guide the work of the Council: (i) the growth of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; (ii) Innovation and Business Development, and (iii) Workforce Development. “It is a fact that in Latin America and the Caribbean, MSMEs constitute a critical and important platform for social and economic growth, youth and gender equity and poverty eradication.” The Ambassador cited 2013 figures from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), noting that MSMEs account for about 99% of firms and 67% of employment in the region. In terms of Innovation and Business Development, the Ambassador linked the Council’s work to the upcoming 8th ACF in Trinidad and Tobago. “We see sustainable development as inextricably linked to perpetual innovation and perpetual innovation is not possible without tapping into the human imagination and creativity.” Finally, the new CIDI Chair said that “it is undeniable that workforce development should be a key component of any country’s national development strategy. Workforce development initiatives aim to deliver targeted education, training and employment support services that allow persons to improve their opportunities for employment.”