In New York, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development of the Dominican Republic, Pavel Isa Contreras, participated in an event organized by the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, and the Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, where he called on Caribbean countries to work together to face the challenge of sargassum.
The event focused on international climate policy, including the financing challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and global governance issues, including reform of the international financial architecture.
In that regard, Isa Contreras called for “redoubled cooperation to address the sargassum challenge, because we, the small island states, also have a responsibility to confront the impacts of the climate crisis.” Ministers and high-ranking officials from small island developing states participated in the event.
In his remarks, the minister thanked Germany and Samoa for convening the meeting with small island developing states. He specifically thanked GIZ for its collaboration with the Dominican Republic's commitment to the energy transition and to the country's most vulnerable communities.
The minister referred to the high levels of vulnerability that small island states have to the climate crisis and expressed that the vulnerability index is a step forward.
However, he argued that “we are at a point where we have to bring two things together: the resilience-building agenda and the reform of the international financial architecture because resilience-building depends heavily on the possibility of accessing long-term financing.”.
The economist and researcher said that this is an issue for the countries that have more influence and capacity to impact and transform that financial architecture.
“This isn’t about gifts, it’s about funding,” said Isa Contreras, who reminded everyone that the urgent shouldn’t overshadow the important: survival. She stated that Caribbean countries “have a responsibility to coordinate the building of resilience.”.
Meeting with Brazilian minister
As part of the agenda he is developing at the Summit of the Future, the Minister of Economy, Isa Contreras, met with the Minister of Management and Innovation in Public Services of Brazil, Esther Dweck.
The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations, was attended by the Deputy Ministers of Planning and Public Investment of the Ministry of Economy, Jefrey Lizardo, and of Innovation and Technology of the Ministry of Public Administration, Armando Manzueta.
Isa Contreras and Lizardo are participating in the Future Summit held during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
In the activities prior to the conclave, Isa Contreras and Lizardo participated as panelists in different events during the Days of Action of the Summit of the Future on September 20 and 21.
The Summit of the Future represents a unique opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the Charter of the United Nations, and move towards a revitalized multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people's lives.
Also included in the Dominican delegation are the Deputy Ministers of Government Monitoring and Coordination of the Ministry of the Presidency, Luis Madera Sued, and of Innovation and Technology of the Ministry of Public Administration, Armando Manzueta.
Cover photo: The Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Pavel Isa Contreras, in the meeting with the Minister of Management and Innovation in Public Services, Esther Dweck of Brazil, and other officials.
