Authorities and Experts Will Analyze Fiscal Policy Challenges in the Region

Authorities and international experts will meet at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) next March 16-17 during the XXVIII Regional Seminar on Fiscal Policy, where they will analyze fiscal policy challenges in times of economic deceleration.

The traditional gathering, which takes place every year at the headquarters of the United Nations regional organization in Santiago, Chile, is organized by ECLAC with the support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  The event is also supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), through the joint ECLAC/AECID program “Renewing the Fiscal Pact in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, and Rodrigo Valdés, Chile’s Finance Minister will inaugurate the event on Wednesday, March 16, at 09:00 a.m. local time, along with other high level officials.

This seminar has become an essential reference in the discussion on the region’s current economic and fiscal situation, and it is attended by officials in charge of fiscal policy, representatives of international organizations and academics from various countries.

The XXVIII edition will include an opening panel of authorities that will address fiscal policy challenges in the current framework of lower economic growth and will also assess the progress made by the region in terms of tax reforms and income distribution.

Two important documents will be release during the seminar: Revenue Statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean 2016, a joint publication of the OECD, ECLAC, IDB and the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations (CIAT), which compiles homogeneous information on tax collection in 22 Latin American countries.

In addition, Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, will present the Fiscal Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean 2016, an annual publication that provides updated statistical information and relevant analysis of the region’s public finances.

Members of the media are invited to attend the seminar. Journalists must have their media credentials or their identity documents with them to gain entry.

More information, including the event’s program, is available at this link.

What: XXVIII Regional Seminar on Fiscal Policy.

Who:

• Officials in charge of fiscal policy, representatives of international organizations and academics from various countries.

Inauguration (Wednesday, March 16, 09:00 a.m.):

• Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary.
• Rodrigo Valdés, Chile’s Finance Minister.
• Alejandro Werner, Director of the Western Hemisphere Department, IMF.
• Santiago Levy, Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge, IDB.

• Ángel Melguizo, Head of the Latin American and Caribbean Unit, OECD Development Center.

• Carlos Robles Fraga, Spanish Ambassador to Chile.

Launch of the report Revenue Statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean 2016 (Wednesday, March 16, 02:30 p.m.):

• Pascal Saint Amans, Director, Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, OCDE.
• Ángel Melguizo, Head of the Latin American and Caribbean Unit, OECD Development Center.

When: Wednesday, March 16 and Thursday, March 17, 2016.

Where: ECLAC’s headquarters. Av. Dag Hammarskjöld 3477, Vitacura, Santiago, Chile (Raúl Prebisch Room).

For queries, contact ECLAC’s Public Information Unit.

E-mail: prensa@cepal.org; Telephone: (56) 22210 2040.

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For interviews or a copy of the report Revenue Statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean 2016, press member may contact Bochra Kriout at OECD.

E-mail: Bochra.Kriout@oecd.org ; Telephone: +33 1 45 24 82 96.