Inter-American Development Bank Group to hold Annual Meeting in Mendoza, Argentina

• Online media registration is available now for the March 22-25 gathering of Latin American and Caribbean leaders
• Spotlight on urban development, economic growth, private sector engagement

The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) will hold its Annual Meeting in Mendoza, Argentina, on March 22-25. Economic and financial leaders from its 48 member countries will discuss key development, trade and investment opportunities for Latin America and the Caribbean on issues ranging from private sector investments to urbanism and economic growth.

Representatives of other development agencies, commercial banks, companies and civil society organizations will also attend the gathering. This is the 59th annual meeting of Board of Governors, the IDB’s top decision-making body. Most Governors are ministers of finance or the economy, or central bank presidents.

The IDB Group is made up of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which provides resources and financing for the public sector; IDB Invest, which focuses on private sector operations; and the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), which provides donations and resources to foster innovative small-scale projects in the region.

During the event the IDB Group will release its annual macroeconomic assessment of the region, which this year will focus on the challenge of securing faster economic growth.

Hundreds of private sector leaders and high-level government representatives are expected to attend the Business Forum “Intelligent Integration with the world: promoting regional economies and infrastructure investment” to take place on Friday, March 23rd at the Intercontinental Hotel in Mendoza. The event will provide an opportunity to discuss economic growth and global competitiveness of Latin America and the Caribbean, with an emphasis on regional integration, the role of regional economies as an engine of development, and investment in infrastructure.

The Annual Meeting will also hold an edition of Demand Solutions event, which brings together innovators and experts to find creative solutions to the development challenges of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Mendoza edition of the event will look at how innovation, digital solutions and the creative economy can be harnessed to solve some of the most vexing issues affecting the region´s growing cities, including urban mobility and resilience to climate change. Those wishing to attend the event should request an invitation at demandsolutions@iadb.org.

Demand Solutions will conclude with the awards ceremony for the 3rd edition of the BID              Urban Lab, a contest where universities are invited to submit creative and innovative ideas to solve urban problems. More than 100 proposals were submitted by 70 universities to convert the General Belgrano railway station in Mendoza into a public park to honor the Mafalda cartoon. The winner will be selected among three finalists: the Universidad Nacional de Rosario of Argentina; The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Bogotá, Colombia; and the Universidad Central de Venezuela, in Barquisimeto.

Members of the news media may register for the event. More information is available at the Annual Meeting website. Additional information about lodging and other options are also available at the host country’s website.