ECLAC participates in the launch of a study on the private sector and indigenous peoples in Latin America

On Monday morning, September 9, the study “Experiences between the private sector and indigenous peoples in Latin America” was presented virtually. The research carried out jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean (FILAC) sought to identify, systematize and analyze experiences of relations between private companies and indigenous peoples considered positive from the point of view of the latter.

At the launch event, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) actively participated by commenting on the results and recommendations of the study to identify elements that encourage the relationship between the private sector and indigenous communities.

The event, moderated by Dulclair Sternadt, FAO’s regional partnership officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, was opened with welcoming remarks by Mario Lubetkin, FAO’s deputy director general and regional representative. This was followed by the presentation of the results of the study by FILAC’s technical secretary, Alberto Pizarro Chañilao.

The Secretary began his presentation by commenting on the motivations behind the study, highlighting the asymmetries that have historically characterized the relations between indigenous peoples and private organizations. “It should be noted that this is being done in a context of growing recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples and their indispensable contribution to sustainable development. Therefore, this work advances towards the incorporation of new dimensions that strengthen the influence of the peoples, making it more symmetrical,” said Pizarro.

The presentation of the study included comments by Myrna Cunningham, first vice president of FILAC; Gerardo Jumi, secretary general of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) and indigenous advisor to FILAC Colombia; Ricardo García Pineo, director general of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Ministry of Culture and government advisor to FILAC in Peru; and Felipe Correa, specialist from the Productive and Business Development Division of ECLAC.

In this regard, Correa expressed his gratitude for the preparation of this study by FAO and FILAC and highlighted ECLAC’s commitment to sustainable development and the attention given to indigenous peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean. He pointed out that, in the area of ​​integral development, the topic of indigenous peoples arises naturally for ECLAC, “because these communities have a concept, which in some countries is called good living, which is very much in line in its philosophy with what we think is the development of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean,” Correa said.

He stressed the importance of this space for dialogue on the private sector and indigenous peoples, since for ECLAC the private sphere is important both as a driving force for the economy and as a catalyst for innovation and technical progress. He also highlighted the heterogeneity of the private sector, pointing out that large companies only represent 20% of private employment in the region, as opposed to the smaller private sector, which accounts for 80% of private employment. “It would also be interesting to be able to put into perspective the relationship of the smaller private sector with indigenous communities, with whom they have a much more frequent dialogue,” said the specialist.

Correa also praised the study’s recommendations, emphasizing the existence of indigenous companies that could also be conceptualized as forms of indigenous economy. “At ECLAC, we work under the heading of social and solidarity economy or community economy, as in the case of the Bolivian plural economy and the recent popular and community economy in Colombia. So, these cases of indigenous companies and indigenous economies, which are also part of the private sector, are elements to explore as new business forms or as new types of companies or companies for a good life,” he added.

The event concluded with questions from the attendees and a call to continue considering ECLAC as a research partner for these and other areas. The regional commission’s participation in these spaces allows it to continue its efforts to generate and disseminate knowledge, continuing to provide spaces and attention to productive development and the comprehensive development of the countries.

The video of the activity can be found at the FAO Youtube Channel.