The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, warned that Mexico as well as Latin America and the Caribbean face a development crisis that is expressed in three main traps: low growth, volatile, exclusive and unsustainable; high inequality, low social mobility and cohesion; and low institutional capacities and ineffective governance.
After receiving and thanking the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) for granting him the Ricardo Torres Gaitán Master Chair 2024Salazar-Xirinachs explained that added to the crisis and the fact that we are closing another lost decade, the region must successfully navigate the changes that international relations are experiencing today, take advantage of the opportunities they open, and also influence with regional positions in multilateral negotiations to avoid unfavorable scenarios and strengthen the multilateral system. But, in addition, it must go beyond the analysis of what to do? to the how to do it? That is, go beyond the lists of objectives and aspirations, and address the challenges of governance, institutional capacities, social dialogue and political economy, to successfully manage transformations in practice.
“To achieve productive, inclusive and sustainable development, I have identified eleven transformations and have made a proposal for growth and productive transformation for productivity, inclusion and sustainability,” explained the senior UN official.
When presenting the Chair, the Rector of UNAM, Leonardo Lomelí, agreed with Salazar-Xirinachs that higher, inclusive and sustainable growth can help reduce inequality and increase mobility and social cohesion, but it must go hand in hand with the expansion of social protection and the welfare state.
“The National Autonomous University of Mexico, through this Chair, recognizes not only his extensive experience and impeccable career, but also his deep connection with the values defended by our educational mission at the University. Likewise, UNAM appreciates its incessant dedication to the training of excellent human resources, its defense of social equality, and its constant search for innovative solutions with high academic rigor for contemporary challenges,” said the Rector.
The Director of the Economic Research Institute (IIEc) of UNAM, Armando Sánchez Vargas, said that the technical committee unanimously decided that the Chair be awarded to Salazar-Xirinachs for his notable merits and outstanding career in the study and application of policies. development, trade, productive transformation, competitiveness and employment. For her part, Lorena Rodríguez León, Director of the UNAM Faculty of Economics, recognized the academic and professional career of the Executive Secretary of ECLAC. At the ceremony, Silvia Hernández, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Executive Secretary of ECLAC, also spoke.
In the same ceremony, the Rector of UNAM and the Executive Secretary of ECLAC announced the relaunch of the Juan F. Noyola International Research Award in Economic Development, with the objective of promoting research related to the economic and social development of the Latin American and Caribbean region. The rules and the call will be announced soon.
