Address by the Secretary for Foreign Trade and Economic Affairs (SCAEC), Ambassador Sarquis J. B. Sarquis, at the 7th High-Level Meeting of the OECD Development Centre– December 6th, 2021

Good Morning,

Dear Ambassador Escudero (Chair of the Governing Board of the Development Center),

Dear Raga (Ragnheiður Elin Árnadóttir, Director of the OECD Development Center),

Dear Colleagues,

Let me first apologize for not joining you today in person in this important discussion. I am glad, however, to share some of Brazil´s thoughts regarding the future perspectives for the Development Center, as it prepares to celebrate its 60^th Anniversary.

Brazil is fully committed to Development Center. I, myself, had the honor to integrate the first Brazilian mission to the center since Brazil became originally a full member in 1994

The Center is able to produce valuable analyses and policy advice, to identify new development trends and challenges and adapt OECD expertise and principles to the different realities and circumstances of its members. The Center should continue to build on the shared knowledge and expertise gathered under these different workstreams.

By having both OECD and non-OECD members exchanging ideas on equal footing, the Development Center can be an important tool for the OECD, its members and many developing countries. It contributes not only to promoting better policies across its members but also to achieving the objectives of the OECD itself, including by taking into account the different realities in its policy debates. We are convinced that this dynamic is even more important now as all countries, developing and developed, are struggling to tackle the impact of increasingly global and common challenges such as pandemics, climate change, the aging of our societies, digital transformation, and inclusiveness in face of still rising inequalities along many dimensions.

In this sense, we congratulate the Chair´s proposed Framework for a Policy Statement on the Future Perspectives of the Development Center. As the Framework emphasizes, the Center’s unique way of promoting co-participation and coordination - amongst a broad range of countries with contrasting experiences and challenges - is one of the best ways to strengthen OECD practices and policies. Global development requires a commitment to pluralism, one in which evidence-based approaches strengthen the building of mutual understanding and common ground.

Brazil is looking forward to continuing engaging with the Center and its members in promoting those objectives.

Thank you very much. I wish you a very fruitful and productive session.