Leonel Fernández Will Head Global Forum on Latin America and the Caribbean 2018 in New York

More than 30 international experts, including Heads of State, Ministers of Foreign Relations and senior representatives of regional organizations and think tanks will discuss their ideas on the present and future of the region on September 25-27, 2018, in New York City.

NEW YORK – The former President of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernández, will head the activities of the Global Forum on Latin America and the Caribbean 2018,
scheduled to take place in New York City Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

The international event, to be held at the Union League Club of Manhattan, is being organized by the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode) and its sister institution in the United States, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD).  Other participants include the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral
Assistance (IDEA Internacional), the Institute of Latin American Studies – Columbia University, and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The main goal of the initiative is to promote spaces for debate and to provide a pluralist platform for the exchange of ideas.  Also, to carry out conversations and analyze the role Latin America and the Caribbean play in the world stage, as well as its implications and challenges.

The Forum will also bring together the main think tanks dedicated to the study of the region’s dynamics, in order to launch a dialogue and
present proposals that will encourage development with equity.

Participants in the Forum will include former Presidents Vinicio Cerezo, from Guatemala; Laura Chinchilla, from Costa Rica, and Leonel Fernández of the Dominican Republic.  Other participants will include Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS); Isabel de Saint Malo, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Relations of Panama, and Miguel Vargas Maldonado, Dominican
Minister of Foreign Relations.

The Forum will also feature distinguished economists, members of public and private Latin American institutions and renowned academics including Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE); Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC Executive Secretary; Humberto López, Director of Strategies and Operations for Latin America and the Caribbean for the World Bank,  and Christopher Sabatini, an expert on public and
international policies from Columbia University School of International Relations.

Other participating organizations: the United Nations Organization, the Economist Intelligence Unit and Latin Insights.

The agenda scheduled for Wednesday, September 26, will include four panels on the socio-economic perspectives for Latin America and the Caribbean; the international economic scenario; the super-cycle Latin American electoral calendar for 2018, and the
region’s stance before the global stage.  All panels will be headed by experts in their particular areas of expertise.

On Thursday two panel discussions are scheduled: the first will concentrate on the value of democratic international and regional instruments that will guarantee sustainable democracies, and the second will discuss the democratic perspectives of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Global Forum on Latin America and the
Caribbean 2018 will be held simultaneously with the Annual Session of the United Nations General Assembly.