Secretary-General of the United Nations appoints José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs as the new Executive Secretary of ECLAC

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, today announced the appointment of the economist José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, from Costa Rica, as the new Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

“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 in a public statement.

José Manuel Salazar will succeed 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, and whom the UN Secretary General thanked deeply for her commitment and dedication to the service of the United Nations.

In the public communication, António Guterres also thanked Mario Cimoli, Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC, who will continue to act as Acting Executive Secretary until Mr. Salazar takes office.

José Manuel Salazar was Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the International Labor Organization (ILO) between 2015 and 2018. He joined the ILO in 2005 as Executive Director of the Employment Sector and served as Deputy Director General for Policies in 2013 to 2015.

Before joining the ILO, he served from 1998 to 2005 as Director of the Trade Unit of the Organization of American States. Mr. Salazar was Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica from 1997 to 1998, Executive President of the Costa Rican Development Corporation from 1998 to 1990, and Chief Economist and then Executive Director of a Central American private sector study center (FEDEPRICAP) in 1990 to 1996. In the academic field, he is the author of numerous articles and books on development, trade, economic integration, competitiveness and employment. He has taught at the University of Costa Rica, the National University of Heredia, the University of Cambridge, and Georgetown University.

He has a master’s degree in Development Economics and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a BA in Economics from the University of Costa Rica.