The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, considered this Wednesday that Latin America can grow close to 5%, above the predictions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), if the countries work together. The IMF «speaks of a growth of 3.4%, but if we all work together, with the same intention, with the same force, I am sure that we can reach a growth close to 5%», he said in his speech at the International Economic Forum of Latin America and the Caribbean. «We must not let them steal our resources, we must not let them steal our dignity and never, ever, be on our knees, but be standing and dancing together», he noted. Noboa added that Latin America is a «region of opportunities», that has resources, young talent, biodiversity, energy, creativity and a strategic location in the world. «We can be providers of food, clean energy, innovation, stability. But more than anything we have a spark, that no region in the world will ever be able to match», he pointed out while urging the region to «be together, always respecting the freedom of each one, and treating criminals «as criminals because they sometimes roam from country to country causing trouble and affecting the peace of each one of us». He stressed the importance of unity, because the region comes from «a fragile history, fragile societies, and if today we do not have that strength, we cannot sustain nations that deserve stability, peace and well-being», he said. Noboa highlighted that his country «is finally open to the world, but more importantly: it is open to Latin America», which, in the last three years, has invested in his country more than in the previous 25 years, he said. «As a Government we understand that if we are not together in a polarized world, we are screwed», he added while insisting that it is necessary to fight so that nations «are not snatched away by drug trafficking, by crime». He highlighted the macroeconomic stability of his country and asserted that the meeting in Panama is a high-level platform to seriously think about the future of the region and build from dialogue solutions that boost growth, inclusion and competitiveness. «We have here a unique opportunity which is to show the world a dynamic, innovative Latin America and the Caribbean with the potential to consolidate itself as a solution to the great global challenges», he said while advocating for an integrated Latin America so that the peoples can work together, among other issues, to reduce poverty. His country —he commented— has managed to lower the poverty index to its «lowest point in history 21.4%» from 28% in which it was in November 2023, when he took office. «Ecuador was on the brink of the precipice, with a drug trafficking network embedded in all institutions, with insecurity, with lack of peace, with zero hope, but we fixed it and we managed» to lower the poverty indicator to the lowest point in history, he said when commenting that also the country risk has dropped to its lowest point (413 points). The country «is better off. There is optimism in the families, in the people even so, with an absolute disinformation campaign, with attacks every day, with four assassination attempts in two years, and even so there is optimism», he noted. He mentioned the importance of dialogue and cooperation and invited the heads of State to move forward, each «with their particular styles», in the «most difficult task: to give our people hope that things are going to be better».
