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AGENDA

Enhancing the contribution of business to economic resilience and green transition 
4 October 2023 | 8:30-12:15 GMT | Costa Rica Country Club, San José
8:00 - 8:30 Registration and welcome coffee
8:30 - 8:45 Opening Remarks

Sergio Capón, President of the Costa Rican Chamber of Industries (CICR) 
Ulrik Knudsen, OECD Deputy Secretary General 
Elias Soley, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the OECD
8:45 - 10:00 Session 1: Opportunities and challenges of the green transition: Looking at the regional context 

 A green and just transition can be an important engine for economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). According to the Latin American Economic Outlook 2022, it could potentially add 10.5% more new jobs by 2030 if both private and public investments increase yearly by 3 percentage points in green sectors by 2023. The potential is there, as the region holds 40-50% of global biodiversity and one-third of global freshwater resources. Furthermore, LAC generates 33% of its primary energy from renewables, surpassing the global average of 13%, and the region presents a great potential to increase key sources of renewable energy including solar, wind and hydrogen. LAC governments made notable efforts to attract high-value investments and accelerate the green transition, while grappling with a 32% poverty rate, as well as considerable gaps in the infrastructure, transport, and energy sectors in both rural and urban areas. The session will discuss opportunities and challenges to accelerate a green and just transition in the LAC region and policies to increase investment from the private sector. 

 What are the main opportunities and challenges to accelerate a green and just transition in the LAC region? 
 What are the main government reforms that LAC countries need to prioritize? 

 Panellists 
 Robert Williams, CEO and Country Head, Central America, Scotiabank 
 Karla Rodríguez Monje, General Manager Costa Rica, Enel 
Marcela Chacón, Global Director, United Nations Relations, Bayer 
Cedrian López, Public Policy Director for Mexico and Central America, Mastercard 
Francisco Balbuena, Sustainability Operations Director - Latin America, The Coca-Cola Company 

Moderator: Sebastián Nieto Parra, Head of Latin America and the Caribbean Unit, OECD Development Centre
10:00-10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 - 11:45 Session 2: Shared action: Private sector contributions to advance the implementation of the green transition 

In the context of the green transition, the role of the business sector is crucial in driving innovation and promoting sustainable economic growth. The business sector is the catalyst for innovation, spearheading the development of cutting-edge green technologies and is central to the financing of green projects. Moreover, business plays a key role in job creation, providing opportunities for the development of green skills and jobs, which are indispensable for the transition to a low-carbon economy. This second session will discuss how the business sector is promoting the green transition in LAC and the challenges they face in moving forward in this area. 

How does the business sector contribute to the green transition in LAC? 
What are the main challenges faced by the business sector in investing in green products and services? 

Setting the scene: Jose Antonio Ardavin, Head of Division for Latin America and the Caribbean, Global Relations and Co-operation at the OECD 

Panellists 
Agustina Catone, Director of Responsible Business and Corporate Ethics, Telefónica Hispam 
Shirley Calvo, Executive Director, National Chamber of Tourism of Costa Rica (CANATUR) 
Víctor M Gómez-Céspedes, President Energy Commission, COPARMEX 
Carolina Palma, Partner, Trade and Customs Leader at Ernst and Young (EY) and Vice Chair BIAC Trade Committee 
José Pablo Montoya, Chair, Energy Commission, CICR Jan Borchgrevink, Chairman, Chamber of Distributed Generation 
Mario Alvarado, Executive Director, Costa Rican Association of Energy Producers (ACOPE) 

Moderator: Jacobo Ramos Folch, Policy Manager, Business at OECD (BIAC)

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11:45 - 12:00 Closing Remarks

José Álvaro Jenkins, President of the Costa Rican Union of Private Business Chambers and Associations (UCCAEP)
Andreas Schaal, Director for OECD Global Relations and Co-operation, and OECD Sherpa to the G7, the G20 and APEC
Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, OECD Development Centre Director 

Contribution Documents to the OECD’s Latin America and the Caribbean Ministerial Summit on Environmental Sustainability

BIAC Contribution DocumentTUAC Cotribution Document
BIAC Contribution DocumentTUAC Cotribution Document
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