REMARKS OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL AT THE LAUNCH OF THE AMERICAS BUSINESS DIALOGUE

October 9, 2014 - Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

At the onset, allow me to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the Government and the People of Trinidad and Tobago, led by the Prime Minister the Honorable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, to this important initiative. You have not only been excellent hosts, but the results already coming out of all the events this week, are evident. It demonstrates that working together our countries can achieve desirable results.

Allow me to highlight also, the excellent leadership provided by this week’s host, the Minister of Planning of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Bhoe Tewarie. Thank you for facilitating this meeting in the margin and in the context of the 8th Americas Competitiveness Forum. I believe this is indeed a natural fit.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Organization of American States sees this meeting and initiative as a partnership: one that was born in the realization and acknowledgment that, no single stakeholder, group, organization or individual can achieve sustainable results, working in isolation. With this in mind, the OAS has started a dialogue between business leaders and the Permanent Representatives in the Permanent Council. Annually, days before the Regular General Assembly, business leaders and government representative also meet in the Private Sector Forum of the Americas. The RIAC network and its subsidiary activities also provides for a close collaboration between the public and the private.

So ladies and gentlemen, whether the OAS, the IDB, the Chamber, or the Governments, private sector groups or individuals, or the people we all represent, we are better off working together. We have many shared goals. We all want peace, and prosperity: objectives which the founding Charter of the OAS has highlighted since 1948.

This meeting today is aptly titled, because this is indeed a dialogue. And we ALL need to be a part of it, across sectors, entities and countries of different sizes, etc. It is a forum designed to encourage an exchange of views. It is a conversation in which we hope to learn from each other and have a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing each of us. We want to share experiences and information. This is the only way we can act, and do so together.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we each have our individual strengths. Cooperation, I believe, is a thing that is often misunderstood or underestimated. It does not necessarily mean the absence of competition. Rather, it recognizes that more voices, and joint efforts, bring greater benefit to all.

I think this is crucial because we are living and doing business at a time that demands new ideas, new thinking, creativity and innovation. We must review the roles and responsibilities each of us has and ask ourselves, where and how should we get better, how do we improve?

We are operating in an environment that also demands strategic new alliances and partnerships. Innovation isn't just about technology; sometimes there is a need to innovate our thinking. The only hope for continued profit making is through competitiveness and innovation. In the end it is all about strengthening our countries’ entrepreneurial capabilities.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me be frank here. I think I can be open with you, because in this room I see industry heads and private sector leaders from across the hemisphere, along with public or state representatives, who are very direct themselves.

There is an old challenge that remains in all of this: finding a way to overcome the aging and overly traditional hostilities between the public and private sectors in many of our countries.

I believe it is time to move away from the old paradigm which traditionally pits socialism against capitalism. Instead, we must continue to pursue a hybrid relationship which can benefit both the private and public sectors.

We must bridge the mistrust and do this through the facilitation of transparent transactions and regular and well structured dialogue. We must work towards a stronger relationship between the public and private sectors within countries and among countries.

I'll continue being direct with you, if you don't mind this morning. I believe that, fundamentally, there is nothing wrong with the idea of profit making. Let me go further. The question is how are we using all of the profit? The challenge is how to share social gains to lift the overall standard of living. The key is a fine line, called striking the right balance between sustained economic growth and equality, a balance between the needs of the individual and the needs of society as a whole. To create the best circumstances, the responsibilities lie both with the Government and with the private sector.

Therefore, we must be willing to work together, it will benefit us all. If we don't, it can mean an equal sharing of miseries, and the unreasonable and unfair expectation that the burden should be placed on the shoulders of one partner.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we must make it work. We must make progress in this dialogue as we work toward the 7th Summit of the Americas 2015 in Panama. Continuous dialogue must be our goal. In the coming months we must make engagement a priority.

We will have several opportunities to continue this discussion at the Summit Implementation Review Group, chaired by the government of Panama, at the level of sub regional organizations, and within countries.

Let us commit here and today to commit to partnership, to progress to the benefit of our people.

I thank you.