A Conversation with Inter-American Development Bank President Ilan Goldfajn
Latin America and the Caribbean face immense challenges, following a decade of slow growth, climate change disruptions and the economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, global trends, such as the transition to renewable energy and regional integration, offer opportunities to address poverty and inequality and improve competitiveness. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), under its new leadership, could play a central role in helping the region build the skills, as well as sustainable physical and digital infrastructure it needs to navigate this complex period.
Under its new president, Ilan Goldfajn, elected in November 2022, the IDB is promoting an ambitious agenda to support the region’s needs.
To discuss the future of the IDB, the Wilson Center’s Latin American Program held a discussion with Mr. Goldfajn. Prior to his IDB presidency, Mr. Goldfajn served as the director of the Western Hemisphere Department at the International Monetary Fund and before that, as president of Brazil’s Central Bank.
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Introduction
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Hosted By
Latin America Program
The Wilson Center’s prestigious Latin America Program provides non-partisan expertise to a broad community of decision makers in the United States and Latin America on critical policy issues facing the Hemisphere. The Program provides insightful and actionable research for policymakers, private sector leaders, journalists, and public intellectuals in the United States and Latin America. To bridge the gap between scholarship and policy action, it fosters new inquiry, sponsors high-level public and private meetings among multiple stakeholders, and explores policy options to improve outcomes for citizens throughout the Americas. Drawing on the Wilson Center’s strength as the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum, the Program serves as a trusted source of analysis and a vital point of contact between the worlds of scholarship and action. Read more
Mexico Institute
The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute. Read more
Brazil Institute
The Brazil Institute—the only country-specific policy institution focused on Brazil in Washington—aims to deepen understanding of Brazil’s complex landscape and strengthen relations between Brazilian and US institutions across all sectors. Read more
Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition
The Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition works to shape conversations and inspire meaningful action to strengthen technology, trade, infrastructure, and energy as part of American economic and global leadership that benefits the nation and the world. Read more
Argentina Project
The Argentina Project is the premier institution for policy-relevant research on politics and economics in Argentina. Read more