Address by Minister Ernesto Araújo at the releasing ceremony of OECD studies “Going Digital in Brazil” and “OECD Telecommunication and Broadcasting Review of Brazil 2020” (part 2)

Thank you very much, Dr. Leonardo Euler de Morais,

I would like to thank everyone for the interventions in this initial session and say that it seems to me that Brazil’s commitment to adhering to OECD parameters has become even clearer.
Our commitment to using the OECD to guide our policies has become clear, but also our ability to contribute to the organization’s central purposes.

Brazil certainly has a lot to benefit from approaching and possibly becoming a member of the OECD. We believe that the OECD and its current members also have a lot to gain by seeing a country the size of Brazil, with Brazil’s capacity and our liberalizing drive and innovative spirit, joining the organization.

Today, digital evolution and telecommunications are perhaps the front-line that will decide the future of societies: whether they will be free societies or move towards other options.

Digital transformation and telecommunications are extraordinarily democratizing, with an enormous potential for social and economic inclusion, but also for political inclusion, by including citizens in the conduction their countries’ business.

On the other hand, they also have a dangerous potential, the potential to favor social control and manipulation. Brazil is fully committed, not only to the liberal economy but also to the free society. We want to promote these ideals in the OECD.

We now have a five-minute break, if there are no other comments here, before proceeding with the panel discussions and the question and answer session, which I am sure will be extremely productive.

Thank you all very much.