The Inter-American Development Bank Group will hold its 59th Annual Meeting in Mendoza from 22 to 25 March, with the participation of authorities and leaders from the private sector. At the meeting, they will talk about the challenges faced by Latin America and the Caribbean regarding economic growth, investment in the private sector and the future of cities, among other topics.
The Annual Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the IDB is the top decision-making body of the organization, representing the 48 member countries. Most of the Governors are Ministers of Finance or Economy or Central Banks presidents. Representatives of multilateral financial institutions, development agencies, and private banks also attend the Meeting.

The IDB Group consists of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which offers resources and financing to the public sector; IDB Invest, which focuses on operations with the private sector; and the Multilateral Investment Fund (FOMIN), which makes donations and provides resources to promote small-scale innovative projects in the region.

At the event, the IDB Group will disclose its annual macroeconomic evaluation of the region, which this year will focus on the ways to generate more economic growth.

The Annual Meeting will include two events happening at the same time: “Latin America and the Caribbean: Growth and Development Agenda” and a new edition of Demand Solutions, which will gather innovators and experts to talk about urban sustainability.

The Business Forum – “Intelligent Integration with the world: promoting regional economies and infrastructure investment” – will gather more than 600 participants from more than 30 countries in the region. Panels will focus on the economic growth and global competitiveness of Latin America and the Caribbean, within a suitable context for business opportunities in the hemisphere.

Speakers include the President of the IDB Luis Alberto Moreno; the Minister of Production of Argentina, Francisco Cabrera; the Minister of Internal Affairs, Public Works and Housing of Argentina, Rogelio Frigerio; SAP CEO for Latin America, Claudio Muruzabal; the Vice President of Customs of DHL Express, Maritza Castro; the Manager of Global Public Affairs of Walmart, Welby Leaman; and the Vice President of Mercado Libre, Sean Summers, among others.

Within the context of the Forum, the Minister of Finance, Luis Caputo, will offer a presentation on investment opportunities in Argentina. The Governor of Mendoza, Alfredo Cornejo, will share with the audience how the Province was able to achieve a competitive insertion at a global level.

The General Manager of IDB Invest, James P. Scriven, will share his vision on the future of the development bank with the private sector. He will talk about the recent change in the trade name of the organization to IDB Invest, which aims at having a fluent dialogue between the public and private sectors, a joint participation in the future and new opportunities for investors.

This year, IDB Invest will provide services for new sectors such as telecommunications, agribusiness and social infrastructure; it will play a more important role in smaller markets; and it will offer more financial products, including more investment in local currency.

Demand Solutions

Innovators and experts will analyze ideas for improving lives in cities. The Mendoza edition of the event will look at innovative solutions in mobility and transport, urban resilience, the future of jobs and cities as creative hubs. Demand Solutions will conclude with the awards ceremony for the 3rd edition of the BID Urban Lab.

Some of the speakers of Demand Solutions include the CEO and co-founder of Aerofarms, David Rosenberg, who promotes sustainable urban agriculture; the Director of Integrated Transport WRI, Dario Hidalgo; the Argentine scriptwriter and film director, Juan Jose Campanela; and the deputy director of MIT Senseable Lab, Erin Baumgartner.

Demand Solutions Mendoza will be taking place on Thursday March 22nd, from 9 AM to 4 PM, at the InterContinental hotel in Mendoza. Those interested in participating in the event may register at the website.

Demand Solutions will conclude with the awards ceremony for the 3rd edition of the BID Urban Lab, a contest where universities are invited to submit creative and innovative ideas to solve urban problems. More than 100 proposals were submitted by 70 universities to convert the General Belgrano railway station in Mendoza into a public park to honor the Mafalda cartoon. The winner will be selected among three finalists: the Universidad Nacional de Rosario of Argentina; The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Bogotá, Colombia; and the Universidad Central de Venezuela, in Barquisimeto.

Members of the news media may register for the event at the website. More information is available at the Annual Meeting website. Additional information about lodging and other options are also available at the host country’s website.

About the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.
About IDB Invest

IDB Invest, the private sector institution of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to supporting the private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. It finances sustainable enterprises and projects to achieve financial results that maximize economic, social and environmental development for the region. With a current portfolio of $11.6 billion under management and 330 clients in 21 countries, IDB Invest works across sectors to provide innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the evolving demands of its clients. As of November 2017, IDB Invest is the trade name of the Inter-American Investment Corporation. www.idbinvest.org