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(9 January 2013) With the new federal Government of Mexico having been in office for 40 days, four of the main international agencies represented in the country talked with President Enrique Peña Nieto and his team about how to implement public policies that will help to generate inclusive development for Mexicans.
President Peña Nieto stated that his Government's ideas and those of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), World Bank, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have much in common, as there is a clear vision for the development of Mexico.
At the opening ceremony of the Mexico Forum 2013 on Public Policies for Inclusive Development, the President stated "Mexico has not grown enough; Mexico has the capacity to grow much more quickly, so let us use our potential".
President Enrique Peña Nieto then added "It is essential for us to rediscover our potential based on Mexico's strengths, such as macroeconomic stability, low borrowing and the world's confidence in Mexico. This will help achieve the aims of this administration: a peaceful, tranquil and inclusive Mexico with higher levels of growth".
As the first speaker at the Mexico Forum 2013, IDB President, Luis Alberto Moreno, highlighted the role and impact that Mexico can have in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mr. Moreno stated "I am sure that all of us here agree that Mexico has to use its considerable physical and human resources to generate inclusive growth and equality. This is not only to improve the future of Mexicans, but also because of the impact of its determination and example for the rest of the continent".
Hasan Tuluy, World Bank Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean, said "Mexico can become the new driver of regional growth, and can do so with a social vocation, so that prosperity is shared among all citizens". He pointed out that "this requires a more efficient State, greater competitiveness and increased social inclusion combined with environmental responsibility".
The Executive Secretary of ECLAC, Alicia Bárcena (who is Mexican), used her speech to explain that -for Mexico and the rest of the region- equality is the horizon, structural change is the path and policy is the instrument for achieving this, because three decades of modest growth can and should be changed for more ambitious plans.
According to Ms. Bárcena, "Concern over growth is not only an economic topic, but also a fundamentally political one". "In Mexico, harmonious and progressive development of the country's enormous potential calls for a structural change and the prerequisite for this is a solid State to protect rights and carry out functions of regulation, redistribution and policy monitoring", she said.
Secretary-General of OECD, Angel Gurría (who is also Mexican), emphasized that Mexico is now taking on a very ambitious agenda for change, and making brave and far-reaching decisions.
He added: "We must be clear: this country will not work unless education results are improved and unless the right conditions for innovation are in place. This country will not work unless the capacities of workers are increased. Without promoting a transition to green growth, this country will not work. Without increasing competition in all sectors, the country will not work. Without more and better social services, the country will not work, and without higher fiscal income to fund them, the country will not work".
The Mexico Forum 2013 seeks to support the new government and Mexican society to define a shared public policy agenda to trigger the potential for sustained and inclusive growth, in the light of inequality and its causes.
The Forum will end on Thursday 10 January with presentations and discussions involving international experts in their sectors. As well as the main representatives from the four agencies that have organized the forum, the Mexican Finance Minister, Luis Videgaray, will take part on the final day.
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