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How well do you think the new governments in Latin America will be able to harness their countries’ resources to narrow the region’s profound political and class cleavages?

First of all, the macroeconomic adjustments are fundamental. Secondly, a priority on education and third, a reduction of the difference between poor and rich. In order to do that, the countries have to face the challenge of renegotiating part of their international debt, making a new type of agreement where a percentage of its internal surplus should be invested to pay the debt and a percentage of the surplus should be invested in the social challenges. These in my opinion - with of course strengthening democracy and strengthening democratic institutions - are the main agenda for the majority of the countries.

Do you feel that concerns for society and the environment are being threatened by efforts to strengthen the position of Latin American countries in the global economy?

Yes, I think that we are facing – not only Latin America but the rest of the world – we are facing a huge challenge regarding environmental issues. And the model of development of Latin America should incorporate this concern. We cannot develop based on traditional models where we deplete nature, deplete our resources. We should develop economically, taking our environmental advantage as a competitive edge. And this means thinking in a systemic way, incorporating the environmental issues as a priority as well.

What are the keys to sustainable growth in Latin America?

First of all, I think that as I said earlier it is very important not to use all of the surplus of the countries and also the payment of the international or national debt. If that happens, the countries will not be able to face these enormous challenges they have to deal with. Then I think that a new arrangement of the debt would be necessary but not only that. It’s necessary to have a new cohesion, a new coalition between government, the private sector and civil society to address these main challenges.

The theme of the meeting is ‘Building a Stronger Latin America in the Global Economy’. What would be your advice to the participants at the summit?

My advice first of all should be hope in the role that Latin America can play. Latin America has a very, very balanced relationship between territory and population. That means that possibilities of development are huge. Natural resources are still abundant and also Latin America is not in the middle of the main international conflicts.

Latin America can be a new reference. It’s a democratic continent, the majority of our countries are fully democratic and the democratic alternative to really play a role in a world that is changing its geopolitical shape very rapidly. Just this week I returned form the European Community and I could see there how the European Community sees Latin America as a strategic partner to development.

Ricardo Young Silva

Ricardo Young Silva, President of the Ethos Institute in Sao Paulo, Brazil, outlines the keys to Latin America's equitable and sustainable growth

Source: www.weforum.org

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