SANTIAGO, Chile – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has signed two agreements with South Korea that would bolster trade between Asia and the Latin American and Caribbean region, with an emphasis on fulfilling the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Thee agreements were penned by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Chile, In-gyun Chung, and the UN regional organisation’s executive secretary, Alicia Bárcena, during a meeting held at ECLAC’s headquarters in Santiago, Chile.
At the meeting, ELAC said In-gyun Chung underscored ECLAC’s work and “expressed his intention of prolonging and expanding bilateral strategic cooperation, oriented toward the needs of Latin American and Caribbean countries”.
Bárcena said it was “highly important for the region to continue exchanging experiences with the Republic of Korea, a country that managed to escape the Middle Income trap through investment in science, technology and innovation”.
“The region’s countries are facing similar dilemmas, which is why sharing experiences is very relevant,” Bárcena said.
ECLAC said the first agreement signed on Wednesday is a 2017-2019 programme that addresses the sustainable development of exports and the strengthening of the Asia Pacific–Latin America Observatory.
“This is the first multi-year programme signed by ECLAC and the Republic of Korea, and it will allow for consolidating bilateral cooperation and planning actions over a longer term,” ECLAC said.
It said the second agreement is an annual programme for 2017 that includes, as a priority, the holding of the international seminar, “Urban development, public leadership and open government. Strengthening capacities for inclusive and sustainable cities.” (CMC)