Through an exchange of views and experiences among private sector leaders and policy makers from the Bank’s member countries, this special seminar will examine critical questions of competitiveness, environmental and economic sustainability as well as new environmental market opportunities.
The importance of environmental concerns has been recognized as a vital part of economic development for decades, but only recently has it been incorporated as a variable in industrial competitiveness and as a factor for new market opportunities. As the economies of the Latin American and Caribbean region become more open, investment flows increase, competitiveness becomes even more important, and the role of the public sector changes, thus the performance of the private sector will have a significant influence on the social and environmental quality of development in the region. How to strengthen the innovative role that the private sector can play in fostering environmentally and socially sustainable development is one of the critical issues facing society in the coming decades. The fundamental objective of this seminar is to explore the issues and opportunities faced by private sector leaders and public policy makers as they respond to this challenge.
Specific strategies will be explored that have been undertaken to improve the performance of enterprises such as environmental management systems, cleaner production and industrial synergy methods. The seminar will also examine new and expanding opportunities in environmental markets and services including cleaner technologies, eco-labeling, ecotourism, environmental liability insurance, and green banking among others. As well, the seminar will highlight the innovative role that the Bank and the Multilateral Investment Fund are playing in supporting new approaches to environmental management and investments in the private sector throughout the region.
Contact: Daniel Shepherd
DanielS@iadb.org 