2025 Concordia Annual Summit

Fostering Institutional Trust in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Role of Regional Cooperation in Strengthening Democracy

  • Global Economy & Trade
Ana Blanco, H.E. Albert Ramdin, The Hon. Manuel Tovar, Jeremy Browne

Session Summary

Important
Quotations

"The OAS’s activities benefit the hemisphere. Every single country, at least 95 percent of the countries in the OAS, benefit from the organization at least five to ten times more than they invest in it."
H.E. Albert Ramdin
"Democracy provides certainty and predictability. You do not put your money where you do not feel at ease, where you do not feel trust or where trust does not exist."
The Hon. Manuel Tovar
"Latin America, in global forums, often punches below its weight. It would benefit from having a clearer and more cohesive voice on the world stage."
Jeremy Browne

Key
Takeaways

  • Trade as Trust-Building Mechanism: Trade integration demonstrates tangible benefits of regional cooperation, with significant scope for economic growth and reducing wealth inequalities. Costa Rica’s experience shows that consistent open trade policy creates jobs and lifts people out of poverty.

 

  • Regional Integration Deficit: Intra-regional trade within the Americas remains critically low, as countries “trade as blocks” rather than among themselves, exchanging more with Asia-Pacific than within their own region.

 

  • Democracy as Economic Foundation: Democratic institutions provide the certainty and predictability essential for investment and economic development. Strong institutions, including functioning judiciary and transparent governance, are prerequisites for sustainable growth.

 

  • Institutional Storytelling Gap: Organizations must better communicate their value – member states benefit from the OAS at least five to ten times more than they invest, but this story isn’t being told effectively.

Action
Items

  • For Regional Organizations: Develop a unified narrative strategy to highlight achievements and ROI; focus on shared, unifying priorities instead of divisive issues; and strengthen internal efficiency through targeted structural reforms.

 

  • For National Governments: Accelerate regional trade integration by finalizing pending agreements like Costa Rica’s CPTPP accession; establish multi-stakeholder trade dialogues including the private sector; and reinforce democratic institutions such as judicial and electoral systems.

 

  • Medium-Term Strategic Actions: Enhance regional connectivity through digital, transport, tourism, and educational links; accelerate economic integration via intra-regional trade, strategic industry growth, and R&D in AI and cybersecurity; and strengthen institutions to foster equitable, democratic societies.

 

  • Long-Term Vision: Uphold the OAS’s founding mission of “peace and prosperity” by ensuring lasting multilateral cooperation that balances regional diversity with national interests, creating stability and opportunity for future generations across the Americas.

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