OECD Adopts Strategic Framework to Deepen Co-operation with Latin America and the Caribbean

By IDEAS

At the close of the 2025 OECD Council Meeting at Ministerial Level—held in Paris on 3–4 June under the chairmanship of Costa Rica—the Organisation’s 38 member countries agreed to strengthen their collaboration with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

The newly endorsed OECD Strategic Framework for Latin America and the Caribbean seeks to “maximise the value, impact and complementarity of OECD work in the region, contributing to solutions to the region’s longstanding challenges.” It reinforces the core priorities of the OECD LAC Regional Programme: boosting productivity, fostering social inclusion, reinforcing institutions and governance, and promoting environmental sustainability. Additionally, the framework addresses emerging issues and opportunities—from harnessing Artificial Intelligence to developing sustainable, resilient value chains for critical minerals and raw materials.

This Strategic Framework reflects the OECD’s evolving and deepening engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean over the past three decades,” said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. “As the world’s fourth-largest regional economy, LAC holds remarkable human and economic potential, thanks to its youthful, diverse population and vast natural resources. Countries from the region are taking on a greater leadership role within the OECD—evidenced by Costa Rica chairing this year’s ministerial—and this framework signals our collective commitment to deepen that partnership."

Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade, Manuel Tovar, added: “This has been a pivotal year in elevating Latin America and the Caribbean’s voice within the OECD. We’re committed to building on this momentum by fostering a more structured, ambitious engagement with the region, and by showcasing LAC’s contributions to global policy dialogue.”

The framework also calls for enhancing the OECD’s support for regional integration efforts and participation in regional summits. It aims to strengthen ties with key stakeholders across the region, including government leaders, the private sector, trade unions, civil society, parliamentarians, think tanks, and academia. An Implementation Plan will be developed in coordination with regional partners, to be presented at the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting.