The session is the most important biennial meeting of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). It serves as a forum for the consideration of pressing development issues for the countries of the region, as well as an opportunity to review the progress of the Commission’s work. The session also enables the governments of member States to examine the secretariat’s report on the Commission’s activities and thus apprise themselves of the work accomplished by ECLAC during the preceding year. Furthermore, through the programme of work that the governments adopt and the calendar of conferences they approve, they also define the mandates that will guide the Commission’s work in the future.

On this occasion, the secretariat will present the position document entitled Managing Transformations in an Era of Ruptures. The document presents an analysis of the “game-changing” shift in external conditions for development, with a view to understanding, anticipating and successfully navigating the new global geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape, while achieving meaningful progress along the way. The document also advances the conceptual understanding of possible pathways for addressing development challenges —the “hows”— by introducing a new analytical framework on governance and institutions, centered on the paradigm of transformative capacities as a prerequisite for driving sustainable structural change.

Lastly, the document addresses 3 of the 11 vital transformations proposed by ECLAC to achieve more productive, inclusive and sustainable development in the region: (i) digital transformation, artificial intelligence and productive development; (ii) regional economic integration; and (iii) macroeconomics for development. It presents concrete and actionable policy recommendations for each of these areas, and includes an analysis of the institutional arrangements and State capacities needed for their design and implementation.