The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, yesterday raised the need for the international community to coordinate its best efforts to successfully address the enormous economic and social challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Abinader said that the Dominican Republic, in assuming the pro tempore secretariat of the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held in the country in 2022, will work to establish a recovery and restructuring fund, which is the basis of a major regional development alliance and which facilitates not only post-pandemic recovery but also the transition to a new, just, green and sustainable economic order.
In his closing remarks, the President thanked the King of Spain, Felipe VI, and the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, for their willingness to send vaccines against Covid-19 to Latin American countries.
He criticized the fact that, despite the need for a renewed multilateral vision, in the process of distributing vaccines against Covid-19, it has been observed that the most developed countries have adopted accumulation policies that regretfully and unfairly refuse access to these. in low- and middle-income countries, contrary to any notion of human solidarity. Abinader considers it imperative to develop governance strategies to ensure the political and social stability of the region, which in turn must be based on economic policies aimed at the full realization of the 2030 Agenda.
funding
He recalled the reports of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), which warns of the severe impact of severe fiscal imbalances and the resulting debt as a result of the pandemic on the region’s vulnerability and liquidity needs.
The President noted that this would widen the funding gap in the Latin American region.
Abinader said developed countries should promote actions to encourage and channel new capital and thus mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic.
“To be clear. We do not advocate for humanitarian aid or charitable funds. What we are proposing is a development alliance that allows us to move as a region to a new productive and redistributive model, “he said.
Abinader highlighted the vulnerability and liquidity needs of the region, as indicated by ECLAC. “The region will need huge new economic resources to strengthen its growth prospects, and developed countries should be called upon to make a greater effort to channel these capitals, which will allow us to reduce the effects of pandemic debt. and relaunch our growth. “, He said.
Summit XXVIII of DR
The President warned that, for the full realization of the 2030 Agenda, it is only possible if funding gaps can be closed at the lowest possible cost for developing countries.
He called on the Ibero-American community to avoid another lost decade in the region. And he concluded that it is a great challenge, “but I am sure that together we will succeed”.
Abinader assured that the Dominican Republic will be an unwavering ally that will work tirelessly so that, based on our differences and similarities, we can go “together for a just and sustainable Ibero-America.”
Trade and energy
Abinader, on the last day of yesterday’s Summit, held three bilateral meetings in which he addressed important issues of interest to the country, such as trade, energy and technology.
He met with his Guatemalan counterpart, Alejandro Giammattei. He later held another meeting with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and later spoke with the head of the Andorran government, Xavier Espot Zamora, who raised the need to expand diplomatic ties, trade, tourism and other areas.
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Solidarity.
Abinader thanked the authorities of the Principality of Andorra, as well as its President Xavier Espot Zamora and his team, as well as Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of SEGIB, for all the support given to the Dominican authorities in the transfer of headquarters and for the successful holding of this Summit.
Transformation is urgent.
He raised the need to protect human rights and the environment, update democratic political institutions to new technologies and refocus public spending priorities and the way societies are governed.