“GDP in Latin American and Caribbean Countries is Expected to Grow in 2017-2018”, Explains Daniel Titelman, Chief of the Development Studies Section UN-ECLAC

GFDD hosted a meeting entitled “Short and Medium-Term Growth Prospects in Latin America and the Caribbean” at GFDD’s New York Office on Wednesday, June 24th, 2017. The discussion was led by Daniel Titelman, Chief of the Economic Development Division of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Titelman is an expert on monetary and financial policies, and has substantive experience in macroeconomic and
financial issues, a topic  on which he has published numerous papers.

Before Titelman’s presentation, Mario Baez, Chief of Policy and Oversight Coordination Services from the Office of the Under-Secretary General of the UN and a member of the GFDD Advisory Committee welcomed the guests to this session, explaining that he was supporting this activity in his capacity as a member of the committee. Baez then gave a brief introduction of the topic and
Titelman’s expertise before handing the floor over to him.

Titelman gave his insight on the future growth  prospects of Latin American and Caribbean countries, which have demonstrated “a historically low growth average” since 2010. However, the speaker pointed out that after 2 years of economic contraction in the region, ECLAC was now making positive projections for the years 2017 and 2018. He explained that, in the first quarter of the
year 2017, ECLAC had projected a growth of 1.3%, which resulted in a 1% growth, confirming that the region is experiencing slow but positive development. Titelman then discussed the risk factors that may impact future growth opportunities, including low investment and productivity in some countries. He explained that all these projections and risks are highly dependent on geopolitical changes and globalization trends.

The expert concluded his presentation by explaining
the importance of institutionalizing and promoting entrepreneurship and innovation all over the region, as well as the need to continue  developing and introducing technologies in society. Titelman told the guests  that data had  shown that economies perform positively when there are investments from both the public and private sectors. This is possible by implementing and introducing more financial mechanisms that invigorate this sector.

Thanking Titelman
for his presentation and GFDD for hosting the session, Baez then invited the guests to join him and Titelman for a networking  reception.

Related links:
http://www.cepal.org/en/topics/economic-indicators-and-projections