CELAC and CEPAL to Collaborate on Poverty Reduction

Quito, February 20, 2015 (Telesur).- Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño hosted the executive secretary of the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) yesterday, where the two discussed a mutual interest in cooperating in order to improve the lives of Latin Americans.

Ecuador is the current president pro-tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and has set out an ambitious agenda, including efforts to tackle poverty and inequality in the region, addressing climate change, and securing funding for social development.

“All of the means of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean are at the disposal of the president pro-tempore of CELAC,” stated CEPAL Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena.

Patiño added that CEPAL's expertise with respect to social indicators in the region would be of “great benefit” to the work that Ecuador hopes to embark on through CELAC.

CEPAL was established in 1948 with the aim of promoting economic and social development, the organization also produces statistical reports about countries in the region.

“We are totally committed to accompanying this process, the role of CEPAL is one of accompaniment and offering our technical abilities for the great regional project that is CELAC,” said Barcena.

Patiño said a formal proposal regarding the cooperation between CELAC and CEPAL would be taken to a meeting of CELAC for approval.