St. Kitts and Nevis participates at OECD launch of Latin America and Caribbean programme
(SKNIS): OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) Ministers concluded their annual Council Meeting by calling on the OECD to explore policy solutions for enhancing productivity, while fostering inclusive growth. The high-level event also marked the launch of the OECD Latin America and Caribbean Regional Programme.
St. Kitts and Nevis was present at the meeting, along with diplomatic representatives from Jamaica and Guyana, to invoke their support for the initiative. The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis was represented by Ambassador Dr. David P. Doyle, the Federation’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
The OECD’s Latin America and Caribbean Regional Programme took place during the OECD 2016 Ministerial Council Meeting on 1st and 2nd June, 2016, bringing together government ministers, international experts and key figures from the worlds of academia, business and civil society.
OECD has developed regional initiatives and programmes in order to facilitate access to OECD expertise and policy experience to countries around the world. The Organisation is preparing with its members a Latin America and the Caribbean Comprehensive Regional Programme aimed at developing a “strategic, horizontal, whole-of-government framework for interaction to support key priorities for the region: increasing productivity, enhancing social inclusion and strengthening institutions and governance”.
Participants at both the Forum and Ministerial Meeting addressed how the OECD can support governments, build on recent international agreements in the areas of sustainable development, climate change and the mandates from the G20 group of leading economies.
Highlights of the event included a keynote speech by Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet, Chair of the Ministerial Meeting.
Ambassador Doyle, who is based in Paris and is a former OECD official, noted: “We welcome a more focused approach to addressing the challenges facing Caribbean small island developing states in areas notably associated with access to ODA funding, strengthening national economic data collection, analysis and policy development instruments, and measures for increasing productivity”.