adminLIMA — Fifteen Latin American and Caribbean countries approved at the weekend a declaration on strengthening the commitment of international community to eradicate poverty. The document, the Ministerial Declaration on Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development, was approved at the Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean Ministers of Industry.
The countries involved are Peru, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador, Paraguay, Cuba, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guatemala, Colombia, Nicaragua and Saint Lucia. The declaration stated that governments should encourage small- and medium-sized enterprises to take social and environmental responsibilities.
Policies should be based on infrastructure construction, diversification of energy sources, investments in generating added value, co-operation and development of knowledge networks, the ministers said. They also said the United Nations Industrial Development
Organisation (UNIDO) should strengthen its support in planning, monitoring and evaluation of industrial policies, facilitating dialogue and creating cooperation ties for technological transfer.
During the meeting, Gladys Triveno, Peruvian minister of production, said the region’s current social, political and economic context “is conducive to applying industrial development policies that will help boost productivity growth and job creation under better conditions.” — Xinhua.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter