Economist José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, from Costa Rica, took office today as the new Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), a position for which he was appointed on September 1, 2022 by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres.
Former Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the International Labor Organization (ILO) between 2015 and 2018, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs holds a master’s degree in Development Economics and a doctorate in Economics from the University of Cambridge, in addition to a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Costa Rica.
He joined the ILO in 2005 as Executive Director of the Employment Sector and served as Deputy Director-General for Policies from 2013 to 2015. Before joining the ILO, he served from 1998 to 2005 as Director of the Organization’s Trade Unit of American States (OAS).
“A public policy and economic development enthusiast, Mr. Salazar brings to the role a deep understanding of development and a lifelong interest and passion for the analysis, design, implementation and evaluation of policies to advance development. economic, social and political development”, said António Guterres when announcing the nomination.
The new Executive Secretary of ECLAC was Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica from 1997 to 1998, Executive President of the Costa Rican Development Corporation from 1988 to 1990, and Chief Economist and then Executive Director of a Central American private sector study center ( FEDEPRICAP) from 1990 to 1996.
In the academic field, he is also the author of numerous publications on development policies, trade, productive transformation, competitiveness and employment, and has written and edited several books. He has taught at the University of Costa Rica, the National University of Heredia, the University of Cambridge, and Georgetown University.
José Manuel Salazar succeeds the diplomat Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, from Mexico, who on March 31 ended her management of almost 14 years at the head of the regional Commission.
About ECLAC
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations, was created on February 25, 1948 to contribute to the economic development of Latin America and strengthen the economic relations of the countries of the region, both among themselves and with the other nations of the world. Later, its work was extended to the Caribbean countries and the objective of promoting social development was incorporated.
The 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are members of ECLAC, along with some nations from North America, Europe and Asia that maintain historical, economic and cultural links with the region. In total, there are 46 member states, and 14 associate members, a legal condition agreed upon for some non-independent territories of the Caribbean.
