The Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic has formally launched pre-event arrangements for the 41st Session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), a high-profile regional economic gathering set to take place from October 7 to 9, 2026, in the country’s second-largest city, Santiago de los Caballeros.
At a briefing held for a broad cross-section of stakeholders, the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirex) shared comprehensive logistical and substantive details of the upcoming three-day meeting. Attendees at the briefing included representatives of the national diplomatic corps, leaders of international operating agencies, senior domestic government officials, chief executives from the national and regional business community, and other key parties invested in the event’s outcomes.
When the session convenes in 2026, it is projected to draw a diverse, high-level cohort of participants. These will include foreign ministers from across ECLAC’s member states, lead delegation heads, top-ranking government officials from participating countries, representatives from global multilateral bodies and development banks, leaders from the private sector, academic researchers, civil society advocates, and international journalists. The core mission of the gathering is to foster open, collaborative dialogue around two central pillars: advancing inclusive regional economic development and addressing the interconnected common challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean today.
Dominican Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó underscored the critical value of cross-border dialogue and multilateral cooperation in tackling shared challenges that do not respect national boundaries. He noted that the Dominican Republic, as host, is focused on ensuring the session delivers tangible, long-term results, including durable cross-sector partnerships, actionable collaborative initiatives, and expanded opportunities for sustained regional integration and growth.
The provisional agenda for the 2026 session covers a range of pressing, forward-looking topics that reflect the region’s current priorities. Key discussion themes will include deepening regional economic integration, accelerating inclusive digital transformation across member states, exploring the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence for development, driving sustainable productive development, and coordinating responsive macroeconomic policy amid shifting global conditions. In addition to these regional and global themes, the agenda includes a dedicated panel focused on the Dominican Republic’s northern region, where the conference will be held. This panel will examine how targeted public-private dialogue can drive inclusive national transformation across the country. The session will also close with a dedicated closed meeting of foreign ministers and senior officials, focused on developing coordinated strategies to manage rapid economic and social transformations amid ongoing global volatility and disruption.