The Chair of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders of Antigua and Barbuda, has called for renewed emphasis on development as a central pillar of the Organization of American States (OAS). This follows an informal meeting of Member States to discuss the Council’s priorities during his Chairmanship. Representatives of Member States joined the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI) in a productive discussion on strengthening cooperation to advance economic and social development throughout the Americas. Ambassador Sanders commended Member States for their participation, noting the enthusiasm and practical spirit of the discussions. “Delegations brought forward constructive ideas and demonstrated a shared commitment to strengthening CIDI as the OAS forum for advancing integral development,” he said. Participants supported a results-oriented approach that strengthens partnerships, improves coordination, mobilizes technical cooperation, and ensures continuity from one Chairmanship to the next. The meeting reaffirmed that development should be regarded as an essential pillar of the OAS, alongside democracy, human rights, and security. Ambassador Sanders welcomed the participation of the Executive Secretary for Integral Development, Ambassador Isabelle Valois, noting that the Secretariat recorded the observations and recommendations made by Member States. “The discussion provided valuable guidance not only for my Chairmanship but also for the continuing work of SEDI,” he said. To strengthen institutional continuity, Ambassador Sanders announced that a Chair’s Summary and Follow-up will be prepared for all meetings during his Chairmanship. These summaries will capture the principal themes from discussions and identify areas for future action. The Chair’s Work Plan focuses on creating conditions for business success in the Americas through greater certainty, stronger institutional capacity, and improved access to investment and finance. Its objective is to strengthen CIDI as the principal forum within the OAS for advancing integral development through practical cooperation.
