Leonel Ferná;ndez Gives Speech at Columbia University on “Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean”

Former President of the Dominican Republic and Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD/Funglode) President, Dr. Leonel Fernández, gave a presentation at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in New York City, where he spoke about different topics related to the sustainable economic development of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The address was titled “Sustainable Development in Latin America and
the Caribbean: Moving Towards a Sustainable Future” and was attended by dozens of academics, students, researchers and leaders at Columbia University, many of whom represent the Dominican community living in the New York metropolitan area.

During the presentation, the former President of the Dominican Republic made several observations and recommendations regarding the growth of the LAC region. Dr.
Fernández mentioned, for example, that the region should increase entrepreneurship and innovation while moving away from an economy based on the exporting of primary resources.

Regional integration is another step the region can take to spur economic growth. “The region should integrate and implement common economic policies that benefit the region and all of its residents,” he said.

Dr. Fernández highlighted the unprecedented growth
that the region experienced during the first 10 or so years of the new millennium, which he referred to as the Golden Era. The development was a result of various international trade agreements signed during that time period including the DR-CAFTA, said the former President.

Following the keynote address was a Q&A session with the audience.

The speech was part of a two-day-long agenda at Columbia University that also included a discussion
between the GFDD President and a group of university students who are researching issues related to the Dominican Republic.