SER Curaçao leads regional talks on sustainable development

Willemstad, Aug. 14, 2024 — The Social and Economic Council (SER) of Curaçao on Tuesday, Aug. 13, chaired a virtual meeting of the “Consejos Económicos y Sociales e Instituciones Similares” (CESISALC), the regional network of socio-economic advisory councils and similar institutions. The meeting addressed various topics of regional importance, with a particular emphasis on advancing sustainable and inclusive development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

A key agenda item was the potential integration of CESISALC within the framework of the Ibero-American Secretariat General (SEGIB), an organization responsible for coordinating Ibero-American summits of heads of state and government. Representatives from the economic and social council of Spain outlined the conditions and steps necessary to incorporate CESISALC’s Ibero-American members into the broader Ibero-American network, granting CESISALC observer status. This move is seen as a significant step toward further bolstering cooperation among socio-economic councils in the region.

The meeting also explored potential collaboration with the Union of Economic and Social Councils of Africa (UCESA). This partnership aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices and strategies between Latin America and Africa. The SER of Curaçao will identify one or more themes of mutual interest to both regional bodies.

Representatives from several countries shared updates on their socio-economic projects. Delegates from Argentina (including Buenos Aires and Salta province), Guatemala, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Curaçao discussed their experiences and achievements, with a focus on urban development, waste reduction, sustainable energy, education reform, national development strategies, and social inclusion.

The meeting concluded with the announcement that the next CESISALC meeting is set for October 2024.