The expansion of global value chains (GVC) has opened new opportunities for economies in transition, which seek to expand and diversify their international trade and gain access to new technologies. However, the current pandemic has left the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in a very vulnerable position. Against this background, high-level officials from international organizations and regional integration mechanisms will address the following questions:

• What is the state of intraregional trade within your integration mechanism? What weaknesses has the pandemic exposed?
• What opportunities has the pandemic brought about and how can regional value chains be strengthened to promote a more resilient and sustainable development?
• What opportunities do you see to strengthen global value chains with other regions and upgrade the region´s position from the traditional supply of primary products?

This expert meeting will feature the participation of officials from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Joint Research Center of the European Commission (EU), the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), the Association of Caribbean States (AEC), the Pacific Alliance (PA), and the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA).

The event will be moderated by Mario Castillo, Chief of the International Trade and Integration Division, UN ECLAC.

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