Antony J. Blinken 71st U.S. Secretary of State | Official Website
The following statement was released by the governments of the United States of America, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay on the occasion of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity July Ministerial.
"We, the foreign ministers of the 12 Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (Americas Partnership) countries, are committed to fulfilling our hemisphere’s potential to foster inclusive, sustainable, shared prosperity for all. Our collective efforts to promote equitable economic growth and opportunity are rooted in a belief that democratic governance requires delivering tangible results for our people. Shared values anchor our commitment, including respect for democracy and the rule of law, diversity and inclusion, environmental and social protection, labor rights, and human rights."
At the inaugural Americas Partnership Summit on November 3, 2023, leaders stated their intention to significantly strengthen economic partnership through an enduring high-level forum aimed at deepening economic collaboration and integration. This forum seeks to address major global challenges such as combatting climate change and promoting greater social and economic opportunity. The roadmap offered by these leaders focuses on several cross-cutting priorities:
- Strengthening regional competitiveness and integration
- Fostering shared prosperity and good governance
- Building sustainable infrastructure
- Protecting the climate and environment
- Promoting healthy communities
Today’s report highlights progress in advancing objectives like promoting inclusive entrepreneurship and clean hydrogen initiatives while respecting rule of law transparency. Efforts also include sustainable food production improvements and digital workforce development.
To expand entrepreneurship opportunities across member countries, Canada, the United States, and Uruguay co-lead training programs targeting diverse entrepreneurs. The USAID CATALYZE Americas Partnership Accelerator has begun training its first cohort of social impact entrepreneurs from four countries. Additionally, programs such as Accelerate Women Entrepreneurs will soon start training women-led small businesses from six countries.
In digital economy expansion efforts post-January's semiconductor workforce symposium in Costa Rica will be followed by another symposium in Mexico this September. These events aim to identify opportunities within the semiconductor supplier ecosystem. Plans also include offering virtual regional courses in cybersecurity and related digital fields via Costa Rica's Center of Excellence.
A clean hydrogen working group was established by Chile, Uruguay, and the United States to promote clean hydrogen use across respective nations. This initiative includes technical workshops designed to develop national policies supporting clean hydrogen production.
To bolster rule-of-law initiatives among partners involves sharing best practices through workshops hosted by members like the Dominican Republic focusing on fostering government transparency.
Food security advancements were discussed during workshops held in Ecuador and Peru with support from organizations such as IICA IDB FAO resulting in defining a regional agenda on bioeconomy initiatives smart agriculture deforestation-free sustainable production food systems transformation plans include creating digital platforms promoting sustainable agriculture practices resources opportunities
Civilian space cooperation between members is strengthened via working groups led jointly by Chile US focusing practical applications space technology including forest fire water management satellite impacts night sky observations
Innovative financing solutions supporting sustainable infrastructure biodiversity involve collaboration between US International Development Finance Corporation DFC IDB Invest mobilizing investments natural capital advancing climate change objectives Fund Nature upcoming project announcements anticipated coming years
Efforts developing resilient secure value supply chains assisted expertise provided IDB studies critical minerals semiconductors medical supplies coordinated finance trade tracks ongoing engagement private sector civil society labor organizations identifying further engagement opportunities business delegations partner countries coordination trade track
Partnership expansion consistent high standards principles East Room Declaration formal process considering prospective participants Western Hemisphere interested joining partnership submit expression interest foreign ministers Americas Partnership
Looking ahead towards 2025 Summit scheduled Costa Rica continued focus addressing key issues fostering inclusive economic prosperity Western Hemisphere sustained stakeholder engagement critical achieving desired outcomes###
