The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is announcing the start of the first phase of public consultations on the development of its new Regional and Global Competitive Integration Strategy.
The objective of this initial consultation period, set for Nov. 4, 2010, to Dec. 6, 2010, is to receive comments from governments, members of civil society, academic specialists, and other specialists on the strategy's profile. The public consultation process is directed at persons wishing to share their opinions or suggestions as part of the development of the Bank’s proposed document.
The profile, which has been prepared by the IDB’s Integration and Trade Sector, explains the principles of integration, offers an analysis of the current status of integration in Latin America and the Caribbean, and presents lessons learned from previous IDB initiatives in the field. The document also proposes a tentative list of areas and actions as well as a new group of strategic instruments to promote integration in the region.
Regional and global integration is one of the pillars of the IDB’s New Institutional Strategy that resulted from the agreement among member countries on the Ninth General Increase in the Resources of the Bank. The IDB will direct some $1.8 billion annually to integration projects to meeting the goals of this mandate.
The consultative process will be carried out in two phases: the first will focus on the strategy’s profile; the second, which will be carried out on the draft of the strategy itself, will include inputs received during the first phase following their review and approval by the relevant Bank authorities.
To participate in the development of the strategy’s draft profile, go to www.iadb.org and send your comments on Dec. 6, 2010 before 8 p.m. (North American Eastern Standard Time).
In addition to electronic consultation, the IDB will carry out meetings in member countries with the participation of representatives of civil society, including non-governmental and private sector organizations, as well as specialists and governments.
The timetable for the first phase of consultations on the strategy’s profile is as follows:
- Quito, Ecuador X Annual IDB-Civil Society Meeting - November 4-5, 2010
- La Paz, Bolivia - November 15-16, 2010
- Montevideo, Uruguay - November 18-19, 2010
- Washington DC, Meeting of Vice Ministers of Trade and Customs Administrators of the U.S., Central America, and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA) - November 18-19, 2010
- Other dates and locations will be determined
For further information on the process of public consultation on the profile of the strategy, send queries to Consulta_integracion@iadb.org.