Public Diplomacy and Costa Rica’s Foreign Policy

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Public Diplomacy and Costa Rica’s Foreign Policy

By H.E. Mr Mauricio Ortiz, Ambassador of Costa Rica in Canada

Costa Rica carries out constant, clear, and coherent actions on issues related to the axes of foreign policy and public diplomacy through our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship and its Foreign Service.

What do we mean by public diplomacy? According to Claramunt and Sáenz (2020), public diplomacy today is something very different from the traditional concept of diplomacy, which  involved almost exclusively the relations between subjects of international law, particularly States, under the sign of power (political, military, economic, strategic…), within a classical conception of the State, and through communication and relationship channels that in good part passed almost exclusively under the key of secrecy of political and military elites.

While traditional diplomacy aims at a relationship between peers, governments and their official interlocutors, public diplomacy bets on broader networks of individuals or collectives, and tends to be more transparent and widely known. This vision of diplomacy is relational, bidirectional or multidirectional, democratizing, associative, symmetrical and promotes dialogue among equals.

In this sense, Joseph Nye distinguished between the concept of hard power based on the possession of economic, material and military resources and the concept of soft power based on skills or qualities that allow a change in the behavior of others, without inescapable pressures, to achieve certain results. In this way, soft power can always be an ally or complement to public diplomacy and is a fundamental instrument for countries that do not have a preeminence in other areas or do not wish to resort to a coercive policy, as is the case of Costa Rica.

Along these lines, Bátora (2005) argues that, in intelligent public diplomacy, small and medium-sized countries could reduce asymmetries and reexamine their accents from a dynamic of growing involvement of non-traditional sectors in diplomacy, such as civil society, academia, science, culture and the private sector. This approach has been progressively incorporated into the foreign policy of many countries.

Costa Rica positions through various types of Public Diplomacy actions, the Pillars of Foreign Policy, and therefore the great positioning of Costa Rica on issues such as sustainable development, peace, democracy, disarmament, human rights, and respect for international law. Likewise, with an integrated effort between diplomatic offices and our Ministry, we developed objectives, actions, indicators and goals in the areas of economic and cultural diplomatic activities. With the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the headquarters developed activities within the strategic axes outlined each year and the priorities of the governing bodies, in the areas of tourism, culture, trade, science, among others.  

Moreover, the efforts in the pillar of Cultural Diplomacy are part of Public Diplomacy, promoting mutual comprehension and understanding, promoting the various expressions, such as film, music, literature, visual and performing arts. Dr Eugene Matos (2016), Dominican Republic diplomat states when talking about culture, “arts reach what diplomats, politicians and governments usually cannot”, and we fully identify with his words.

In Costa Rica there are some relevant experiences of state support for the internalization of cultural projects. One example has been the work with the Costa Rican Film Production Center, part of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, which has accompanied our embassies abroad in their cultural promotion functions, and has used this platform to internationalize the work of our country’s audiovisual creators. On the other hand, the efforts of our country brand (Essential), as a transversal strategy, position Costa Rica in the world for the benefit of trade and investment attraction, culture, and tourism, under the strategic axes of sustainability, excellence, innovation, social progress and Costa Rican linkage.

As Claramunt and Sáenz (2020) point out, in a fragmented world, public diplomacy tends to bring individuals and people closer together when politics, in some of its manifestations, can divide them. When hard politics tends to separate and alienate the parties, culture, science, sustainable development manage to offer the conditions for greater closeness and for the constitution of knowledge networks that often respond to their own ethics and needs.

Costa Rica promotes a public diplomacy aimed at dialogue between people, through different manifestations, which allows other levels of understanding, mutual recognition, and appreciation of the differences between societies and states. In the work of its embassies and consulates, Costa Rica and its institutionalism, in its public and private expression, can find the natural platform to strengthen those elements of soft power that our country has, which in 1949 decided to abolish the army and invest in education, health, infrastructure and in the protection of the environment.

Essay assigned  to distinguished students. Dr. Eugenio Matos G., senior diplomat and lecturer of public diplomacy at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Mastering Public Diplomacy Certificate, May 2021 session. 

A more intense cultural exchange in the Caribbean region would greatly benefit the Dominican Republic

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A more intense cultural exchange in the Caribbean region would greatly benefit the Dominican Republic

By Lucy Esther Díaz Rijo, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of the Dominican Republic To the Kingdom of Sweden

One of the many definitions of Cultural diplomacy is that it is “a course of actions, which are based on and utilize the exchange of ideas, values, traditions and other aspects of culture or identity, whether to strengthen relationships, enhance socio-cultural cooperation, promote national interests, and beyond. Cultural diplomacy can be practiced by either the public sector, the private sector or civil society”1.  It has been called the “linchpin of public diplomacy” because cultural activities have the possibility to demonstrate the best of a nation2.

Cinema, dance, music, plastic arts, literature, sports, gastronomy, and language are all expressions of a country’s riches and contribute to a deeper understanding of the civilization in question.

Diffusion of national culture abroad is not a trivial subject for the more powerful nations. A proof of this can be seen in the global proliferation of cultural institutions from Western nations like:  Alliance Française (France),  the current Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (USA), Canadian Arts Coalition and Canada Council for the Arts (Canada), British Council (United Kingdom),  Goethe-Institut (Germany), or Instituto Cervantes (Spain); and even Israel is doing it through their Jewish Agency for Israel. The formerly mentioned countries, among many others, consider Cultural diplomacy an important tool for their Foreign Affairs management, with implications for National Security at times3.

Having said this, I believe the DR can benefit from a more widespread Cultural diplomacy in the Caribbean region. It can start by promoting a more intense dialogue with its neighbours, most importantly with Haiti, with whom it shares the island of Hispaniola and with the others island nations, members of Caricom4 (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago). Oftentimes the DR is not really embraced by the mentioned Island Nations.  There even was a big controversy in 2015, some Member States accused the country of xenophobia due to its complicated relationship with its neighbour, Haiti5. Another underlying reason for which some Caribbean Island nations feel a reluctancy toward the DR is due to the fact that the Dominican economic growth from the past four decades, and the modernization that it has undergone as a result of this, make the country more of a rival that an ally, in terms of competition for foreign direct investment, tourism resources, and exports of local products.  

Dominican cultural riches is undeniable, the first Spanish settlement in the Americas was founded at La Isabela, in the northern province of Puerto Plata, and the country’s capital, Santo Domingo, is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas. It was the first seat of the Spanish colonial rule, headquarters of their power in the New World and therefore it was a site for diffusion of the Spanish language, culture and religion since its inception. Also, it was the site of many of the first institutions in the Americas, e.g. the first university, cathedral, hospital, monastery, museums and fortresses in the New World. Catholicism started spreading from this island, with the first Mass being celebrated on the 6th January 14946. The city’s Colonial Zone has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO7. In 2010 the Dominican capital was declared as Cultural Capital of the Americas8.

Quisqueya, the name given by the native Taíno people to this part of the island, is the homeland of famous writers, painters, poets, singers, dancers, baseball players, fashion designers, chefs, actors. Its rhythms have reached every corner of the world, and people from every country and religion have been delighted with musical notes of the Merengue and Bachata, both genres having been declared as Cultural Intangible Heritage of Humanity, by UNESCO9 10. Moreover, the notorious Cocolo dancing theatre in the province of San Pedro de Macorís11 (Guloya and Guloyita) and the Carnival in the province of La Vega12, also were declared “holy” by UNESCO, but all of this has not been enough to fuel an intense cultural exchange that leads to a deeper understanding with the surrounding Caribbean countries mentioned above.

According to the prominent Prof. Dr. Nicholas J. Cull, “it is surprising to see transnational regions using cultural diplomacy to advance their collective interest, because historically, Cultural Diplomacy has been so much about “my country is better than your country”, like some sort of “cultural Olympics”.  He argues that the Malmö – Copenhagen border region joint Film Festival (Swedish / Danish) has been successfully carried out. 

We perfectly understand that in the case of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, there is not such an overlap in the two cultures as there is between Sweden and Denmark, with language being the first barrier. Creole and French are the official languages of Haiti, and the French based Creole the most spoken one. However, that is not a good enough reason not to plan joint event of various nature, be it sports, music, dance, or theatre related.

Another example of good international cooperation can be found on Hispaniola itself, where there are two border region International Markets, which have been active in the last couple of decades without any major incidents13, but of course, this essay is not about economic cooperation. We are talking about anything but a utopia, and more about a project which could be the starting point for a greater cooperation between the two nations, and which hopefully would be mutually profitable.

In conclusion, Cultural diplomacy strengthens ties among nations, releases tensions and fosters peace on all levels. Capitalizing its cultural riches is in the best interest of the Dominican Republic, by adopting more incisive strategies for its foreign policy and boosting the cultural exchange in the Caribbean region, in order to improve its image and achieve a better understanding with its neighbouring countries.

References:

  1. Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) Berlin, Germany
  2. United States, Department of State, Advisory Committee on Cultural Diplomacy, Diplomacy Report of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Diplomacy, 3.
  3. Dr. Eugenio Matos G., lecturer of public diplomacy at the University of Ottawa and senior diplomat. 
  4. http://www.sice.oas.org/trade/ccdr/spanish/ccdrs.asp#:~:text=(ii)%20La%20Comunidad%20del%20Caribe,Suriname%20y%20Trinidad%20y%20Tobago.
  5. https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/repensar-el-ingreso-a-caricom-BUDL1051451
  6. Floyd, Troy (1973). The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492-1526. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. p. 22.
  7. Colonial City of Santo Domingo – UNESCO World Heritage Centre
  8. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/santo-domingo-dominican-republic-dr-2010-cultural-capital-of-the-americas-87164792.html
  9. https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/music-and-dance-of-the-merengue-in-the-dominican-republic-01162
  10. https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/music-and-dance-of-dominican-bachata-01514
  11. http://www.lacult.unesco.org/docc/guloyas_and_guloyitas.pdf
  12. https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/it/event/arte-e-cultura/la-vega-carnival-2020/
  13. https://eldinero.com.do/27483/comercio-binacional-entre-haiti-y-republica-dominicana/

Essay assigned  to distinguished students. Dr. Eugenio Matos G., senior diplomat and lecturer of public diplomacy at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Mastering Public Diplomacy Certificate, May 2021 session. 

The Role of Public Diplomacy in a Post-Covid World

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The Role of Public Diplomacy in a Post-Covid World

Nature, Concept & Goals

By Mr. David Gibbs, Consul of Barbados in Toronto

Public diplomacy is the processes by which international actors advance their ends abroad through engagement of publics.  It consists of political actors engaging in strategic communication with foreign audiences in an image and reputation management capacity to further their foreign policy and security interests.

Robert H. Gass and John S. Seiter sees Public diplomacy as a form of national image management, which includes efforts to capture the hearts and minds of others, through official or unofficial means.

Youmans and Powers adopt a theoretical lenses in which one actor uses a narrative that nudges the receiving audience to a worldview of the sending government. Public diplomacy seeks to generate positive outcomes in trade and investment, export promotion, tourism promotion and talent attraction.

Impact of Covid-19

The COVIDcan be easily shown from looking at a range of measurements:

  1. 3.3 million deaths and 163 million cases.
  2. Bloomberg News estimates a $19.5 trillion increase to global debt
  3. US $3.9 trillion in lost economic output
  4. The International Labour Organization estimates Global unemployment could increase by $25 million
  5. The World Trade Organization states that trade fell by 5. 3 percent.

A Climate of Distrust

Even more debilitating is the climate of distrust and suspicion that has overtaken the global narrative.

The world Economic Forum noted in January 2021 that the Edelman Trust barometer reflected that the earlier trust surge has given way to deep disappointment and a reshuffling of institutional trust. The disparate impact of the COVID-19 recession has prompted a record mass-class divide of 16 points with 25 of 28 markets showing double-digit trust gaps, triple the number of a decade ago.

There is brutal judgment accorded by other nations to the world’s two largest economies. China has endured the most precipitous decline (18 points) in trust from its citizens (from 90% trust to 72% in the past six months). The US, in the bottom quartile of countries as of November 2020, dropped a further five points post-election (43%).

Small States: Debt and Vulnerability index

COVID-19 has had an especially severe economic impacts on small states — these are 50 countries that comprise the Small States Forum and they face unique development challenges due to their small population and economic base. These countries are particularly vulnerable to external shocks, natural disasters and climate change.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Minister for Economy and Climate Change of Fiji; and Chair, Small States Forum states “The COVID-19 pandemic shows how important concessional financing is for small states and other countries vulnerable to shocks.”

The World Bank has been the leading multilateral provider of concessional resources to small economies which have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the Bank’s emergency COVID-19 response has reached more than 100 countries. Since the start of the outbreak, overall financial support to 30 small states has exceeded $1 billion of which $600 million has been geared toward the COVID-19 response.

Public Diplomacy the Rescue

We are witnessing the emergence of two categories of countries.

On one hand there are those countries whose public image has taken a battering as a result of their actions. Russia, China, Brazil, United States and India are example of countries whose leaders denied the consensus of the scientific community. Instead they traded in conspiracies theories and/or peddled disinformation to sully the reputations of their main international rivals.

On the other hand, are the smaller countries whose socio-economic circumstances have been pummeled almost to the precipice of collapse. They will need economic concessions and assistance of mammoth proportions from the international community. They success in extracting that level of assistance will in part depend on their ability to persuade the international community that they are making a credible case and that they have the political leadership, institutional capacity and national consensus to effectively manage the resources provided.

In both of these cases public diplomacy can play a critical role in repairing, restoring and retrofitting the national image and reputation thus making the international community more willing to respond favorably. Under these circumstances public diplomacy should promote an image of willingness to mend fences, build bridges, engender transparency and adhere to good governance.

This will make it much easier for diplomats and political leaders to enter into economic cooperation, trade agreements, debt forgiveness, provision of concessionary financing, technical assistance and other forms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation without fear of a domestic political backlash in national parliaments or at the ballot box.

Youngman and Powers point to five goals of public diplomacy:

  1. Support foreign policy priorities
  2. Provide economic benefit
  3. Build relationships and mutual understanding
  4. Project values and enhance image
  5. Manage crises

On this basis the Covid-19 pandemic may provide a useful test case for the efficacy of public diplomacy.

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a diminishing of the national image of many countries. It has also resulted in smaller counties in dire need of unprecedented economic assistance. Both of these scenarios can best be fixed by the use of coordinated and well-crafted public diplomacy initiatives.

Even though traditional bi-lateral and multilateral forms of diplomacy will undoubtedly be the main methods used to restore relationships and provide economic assistance in a post Covid-19 world, public diplomacy will provide an enabling environment and nurturing climate to return both damaged international relationships and gloomy economic prospects to some form of equilibrium.

Essay assigned  to distinguished students. Dr. Eugenio Matos G., senior diplomat and lecturer of public diplomacy at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Mastering Public Diplomacy Certificate, May 2021 session. 

Soft Power in Diplomacy: An Ideal Strategy for Small Island Developing States

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Soft Power in Diplomacy: An Ideal Strategy for Small Island Developing States

By Ms. Sonia Marville-Carter, Consul General of Barbados in Toronto

The term “Soft Power in Diplomacy” is considered by some as new wrapping on an old practice. Since the term was coined by Joseph Nye back in the 1980s, it has birthed a conscious and deliberate expansion in the strategies of diplomacy which very much mirror the techniques, skill set and precision employed in the art of successful marketing campaigns. As it relates to diplomatic relations, the successful execution of soft power practices in diplomacy can often be seen as an acknowledgement of the age old adage that a ‘soft word can turneth away wrath’.

Diplomacy by its very definition is the art of managing international relations in a tactful, sensitive, subtle, delicate yet effective manner. And “Soft Power in Diplomacy” by extension is defined by Nye as “…the ability to affect others to obtain the outcome one wants through attraction rather than coercion or payment.” This for the small island developing state, is our most effective diplomatic strategy.

It is important at this stage I believe to qualify “Soft Power Diplomacy” as a process and not a product. As with anything else it is not what is done but how it is done. Some have asked, where does Cultural Diplomacy, a main pillar of Soft Power Diplomacy end, and Cultural Imperialism begin? I posit that there is a major difference between cultural diplomacy and cultural imperialism and the latter cannot be considered a factor in the discussion of soft power practices. The mere use of the word “impose” in the definition of cultural imperialism negates it as a soft power diplomacy practice, if we consider the definition of soft power diplomacy given by Nye.

Most Barbadian envoys engaged in diplomatic relations across the globe, though possessing diverse and often times specialized skill sets in areas of arbitration, trade, policy, sustainable development, technology and economics to name a few, all engage in forms of cultural diplomacy. When one considers the many facets of soft power diplomacy, some may question the overlap in the mandates of our Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Cultural Ministries. The sometimes blurred lines in responsibility of execution are however usually made clear by the fact that all government departments and agencies work together to achieve a common goal and whereas clear lines may be drawn for national duties, international or diplomatic duties cancel out any territorial demarcation that may have otherwise been called into question.

Enhanced by the digital and social media age, soft power diplomacy programs such as infomercials on the political practices and foreign policies of a country, as well as art exhibitions, concerts and other cultural showcases which once required large capital to execute, can now be accomplished with less financial investment and reach a much larger audience, all facilitated by technology.

A successful event is no longer solely dependent on the marketing, advertising, budget and promotional skill set, but also high on the list is a technology driven skill set, as the virtual component is crucial. The curiosity of the average human being is peaked when attracted by taste, experience, smell, sight or even information. They search to replicate that positive emotion and are then generally endeared or drawn to the source of that positive experience.

The same principle applies when navigating international relations. One must so well promote one’s country, its foreign policy, practices, culture and people that in effect a ‘brand’ is created; a positive reinforcement which becomes synonymous with one’s country and creates a ‘feel good’ effect with the mention of its name. As a representative of Barbados, it is my job to ensure that when you hear BARBADOS you automatically think of an island paradise with strong governmental structures, a wonderful place not just to vacation, but to invest, live and raise a family. And if you didn’t feel that way before at the mention of BARBADOS, I am sure it will pop into your mind from now on. That was definitely soft messaging, but hopefully powerful enough for you to stop and maybe google BARBADOS.

For diplomatic representatives of Small Island Developing States, navigating our way through international relations, constrained by the effects of climate change and more recently the economic devastation of the COVID 19 pandemic, it is imperative to find cost effective and innovative ways to carry out the mandates of our governments and therefore techniques and methods which may not have traditionally been employed within our diplomatic offices are rising to the fore.

There is not a tenet of Soft Power Diplomacy which exists that is not best managed and executed by a strong marketing campaign; may it be cultural, ideological or institutional. The ideological and institutional pillars of our soft power diplomacy practices have long been employed, the cultural pillar may now be emerging as the crucial stabilizing factor for small island developing states in this era.

Essay assigned  to distinguished students. Dr. Eugenio Matos G., senior diplomat and lecturer of public diplomacy at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Mastering Public Diplomacy Certificate, May 2021 session. 

Congo’s Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso promotes foreign partnerships

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Congo’s Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso promotes foreign partnerships

Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso – Picture by Office of Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso.

Friday, 21 May 2021, Brazaville, Republic of Congo: Congolese politician and businessman Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso, born 14 January 1975 in Brazzaville joined his country’s cabinet as per an announcement from Saturday, 15 May. He is the son of Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo since 25 October 1997. 

Sassou Nguesso joined the government of Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso in the capacity of ‘Minister of International Cooperation and Promotion of Public-Private Partnership’ on 21 May 2021 when he was sworn into office. He entered politics as parliamentarian for the Oyo constituency located in the Cuvette Department on 5 September 2012, representing the Congolese Workers’ Party. 

Minister Sassou Nguesso is a trained jurist by education. He was educated in France.  Since 2017, when he was re-elected deputy, he became a member in the Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.  

In 2012 he set up his foundation ‘Perspectives d’Avenir‘ (Perspectives for the Future) which has a stark impact in fomenting health, and social programmes throughout Congo. For instance the foundation has led vaccination drives around the country, financed cancer treatments and built schools in rural communities. 

In 2016 he was bestowed upon a doctorate honoris causa by the Private University of Marrakech. 

For further information: 


About the Minister of International Cooperation, and Private-Public Partnerships: https://www.denischristel.cg/#
Foundation ‘Perspectives d’Avenir’: https://en.perspectivesavenir.ong/

Guillermo Lasso assumes Ecuadorian presidency

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Guillermo Lasso assumes Ecuadorian presidency

Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya, HM King Felipe VI of Spain and Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso – Picture by Casa de S.M. el Rey

Monday, 24 May 2021, Quito, Republic of Ecuador: The 46th President of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso Mendoza, was inaugurated as the first centre-right politician to assume the Ecuadorian presidency in nearly two decades. 
President Guillermo Lasso (16 November 1955 in Guayaquil) is a well-known businessman who made a career in politics as Governor of Guayas Province, and subsequently Minister of Economy and Finance. He founded his own political party in 2012, namely ‘Creando Oportunidades‘ (CREO – Creating Opportunities).

As president he is head of state and of government. His presidential tenure lasts for four years, and can be renewed only once by universal suffrage. The President resides at Carondelet Palace. Ecuadorian presidents act as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, and appoint cabinet ministers at their volition. 

Su Majestad el Rey durante la interpretación de los Himnos Nacionales de España y Ecuador

Four heads of state as well as eight foreign ministers partook at President Lasso’s inauguration. Amongst the top leaders in attendance were the President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro; of Colombia, Iván Duque; of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader; and of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse.

The Solemn Ceremony of Transmission of the Presidential Command consisted of the entrance of the National Standard; the interpretation of the National Anthem of the Republic of Ecuador; the allocution of the Speaker of the National Assembly; the swearing in of Mr Guillermo Lasso, as President of Ecuador; the implosion of the Presidential Sash and the Grand Collar of the National Order of Merit; the reading and signing of the Presidential Decree by which  Guillermo Lasso assumed the headship of state; the departure of Mr Lenín Moreno, predecessor in the presidential office.

Thereafter swearing in of Alfredo Borrero, Vice-President of the Republic of Ecuador, took place; the speech of President Guillermo Lasso, President of the Republic of Ecuador; the interpretation of the Anthem to the City of San Francisco de Quito; and the departure of the National Standard.

For further information: 
Presidency of Ecuador: https://www.presidencia.gob.ec

41st FITUR fair held in Madrid

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41st FITUR fair held in Madrid

Panama’s Tourism Minister Iván Eskildsen and Zurab Pololikashvili – Picture by UNWTO.

19-23 May 2021, Madrid, Kingdom of Spain: Their Most Catholic Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia opened the 41st FITUR (Feria Internacional de Turismo). The Royal Couple was received upon their arrival at the Juan Carlos I Trade Fair Park by the Prime Minister of Georgia (guest of honour), Irakli Garibashvili; the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso; the Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto; the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili; and the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida.


Croatian Tourism State Secretary Tonči Glavina and Zurab Pololikashvili – Picture by UNWTO.

The King and Queen were then greeted by the presidents of the Autonomous Communities of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno; of Cantabria, Miguel Ángel Revilla; of La Rioja, Concepción Andreu; of Murcia, Fernando López Miras; of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page; of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres; of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol, amongst other authorities.

Tourism Minister of Ghana, Mohammed Ibrahim Awal and UNWTO SG Zurab Pololikashvili – Picture by UNWTO.

Once the tour was over, the King and Queen were greeted by the FITUR Organising Committee and by the Ministers of Tourism attending the inauguration. Amongst those attending were the Mexico’s Tourism Secretary, Miguel Torruco Marqués; Director General Mynor Cordón from Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT); Dominican Republic’s Tourism Minister David Collado and the founder of Punta Cana Frank Rainieri; the Argentine’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Matías Lammens; Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis; Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications of Serbia, Tatjana Matić; Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett; Croatian State Secretary for Tourism, Tonči Glavina; Albanian Tourism Minister Blendi Klosi; Chairman of the St. Petersburg’s Tourism Committee, Sergey Korneev; The Gambia’s Tourism Minister, Hamat Bah; Panama’s Tourism Minister, Iván Eskildsen; Peru’s Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister, Claudia Cornejo Mohme; Mozambique’s Tourism Minister, Eldevina Materula; Ghana’s Tourism Minister, Mohammed Ibrahim Awal; the Vice President for Tourism at ProColombia, Gilberto Salcedo Ribero,…etc. 


Miguel Torruco Marqués from the Mexican Tourism Secretary opens the stand of his homeland – Picture by UNWTO.

The International Tourism Trade Fair – FITUR is the premier annual event for world tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound markets in Ibero-America. In the 2020 edition FITUR has broken participation records with 11,040 companies from 165 countries/regions, 150,011 professionals and 111,089 visitors from the general public.


Peru’s Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Claudia Cornejo – Picture by UNWTO.

FITUR 2021, in its special edition Tourism is back, was held from 19 to 23 May, and was the first major experience of safe international mobility in Spain, which seeks to relaunch tourism globally and consolidate Spain as a prescriber of safe tourism.

Technology, the future and sustainability, and specialisation will continue to be the main themes of FITUR, in addition to the promotion of actions aimed at increasing professionalism, representativeness and internationality. FITUR will address, in a cross-cutting manner, issues such as Big Data, artificial intelligence, smart destinations, start-ups, etc. In addition, the launch of the FITUR Next observatory acts as a guide to identify the tourism trends of the future and project those guidelines that generate a positive impact for visitors, residents, destinations and the planet, in the economic, social, cultural and environmental spheres.

Each year the Fair brings together experts in a variety of disciplines to share knowledge, experiences and concerns. 

For further information:

UNWTO: https://www.unwto.org/news/unwto-gives-voice-to-the-initiatives-of-the-private-sector-at-fitur-2021

Spanish Royal Household: https://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_actividades_detalle.aspx?data=14882

Belizean Dr Carla Barnett Appointed First Female Secretary-General of CARICOM

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Belizean Dr Carla Barnett Appointed First Female Secretary-General of CARICOM

By Roy Lie Atjam

Port-of-Spain, 11 May 2021. Statement from the chairman of the Caribbean Community(CARICOM), Dr the Right Hon. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the selection of the new CARICOM Secretary-General. It has been unanimously agreed to appoint Dr Carla Natalie Barnett as the 8th CARICOM Secretary-General.

Dr Barnett, a national of Belize, is the first woman and the first Belizean to be selected for the post. She will replace Ambassador Irwin LaRocque who is completing his second term. She will assume office on 15 August 2021.

Heads of Government, Ministers, regional and international organisations and citizens of the Community have used social media to offer their congratulations to Dr Barnett. 

Dr. Barnett attained her Ph.D. in Social Sciences from the University of the West Indies, (UWI) Mona Campus in Jamaica. She also holds a Master of Economics degree from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in Jamaica.

Dr Barnett has extensive experience at the executive level of the public service in Belize and the CARICOM Region. Her work experience includes service as Financial Secretary and Deputy Governor/Acting Governor at the Central Bank of Belize.  She has also served as a Vice President at the Caribbean Development Bank and is now a Senator in Belize’s Upper House. Moreover, Dr Barnett, who served as the first female Deputy Secretary-General of CARICOM from 1997 to 2002, has now taken her distinction to the highest level as the first female to become Secretary-General.

In a congratulatory message, Prime Minister of Barbados and former Chair of CARICOM, the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, described Dr Barnett as “perfect for the job in the Region at this time when economies have collapsed and what we need is a sound economist to lead us on a path to growth.”

Prime Minister Mottley said, “Her vast experience in regional organisations such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Central Bank of Belize and elsewhere, has sharpened her for the position she is about to assume — not because she is a woman, but because of her competencies.”

 “However, her being the first woman means that young girls across the Region can be inspired by Dr Barnett’s accomplishments and begin their moon journey,” she said.

CARICOM’s Head Quarters is located in Georgetown Guyana. CARICOM(1973) is the oldest surviving integration movement in the developing world. It is a grouping of twenty countries: fifteen Member States  and five  Associate Members. It is home to  approximately sixteen million citizens, 60% of whom are under the age of 30.The Community is multi-lingual; with English as the major language complemented by French and Dutch  and  variations of these, as well as African and Asian expressions.

CARICOM Secretariat’s mandate is to contribute, in support of Member States, to the improvement of the quality of life of the People of the Community and the development of an innovative and productive society in partnership with institutions and groups working towards attaining a people-centred, sustainable and internationally competitive Community.

Together the community is responsible for the strategic management and direction of the Organization and for working closely with the Councils and their Chairpersons to promote the implementation of decisions. The Work is guided by the 2001 Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

The latest news: Azerbaijan, CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque received the Letter of Credence of H.E. Elkhan Polukhov on 12 May 2021, accrediting him as the first Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the CARICOM.

Picture is a courtesy of Guyana Chronicle Newspaper

Nadia Fettah Alaoui serves as Moroccan head of tourism

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Nadia Fettah Alaoui serves as Moroccan head of tourism

Nadia Fettah Alaoui – Picture by State Department, US Embassy in Rabat.

Businesswoman Nadia Fettah Alaoui (b. 1971) is since 2019, during the cabinet reshuffle of Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Otmani, the first female at the helm of the country’s Ministry of Tourism, Handcraft, Air Transport and Social Economy. 

Minister Fettah Alaoui is known as a well-connected businesswoman in the Kingdom of Morocco, and this is her first portfolio within a government. She holds a degree from École des hautes études commerciales de Paris (HEC Paris). After graduation she began her professional career at then accounting prime multinational Arthur Andersen. 

Upon her ministerial appointment it became known that Minister Fettah Alaoui is a member of the National Rally of Independents Party. She is deemed as a highly capable woman concerning financial management, and her expertise is required in the sectors that are drastically touched by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

For further information:

Summit on the Financing of African Economies

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Summit on the Financing of African Economies

President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, Brigitte Macron, Ambari Daroueche, and President Emmanuel Macron – Picture by Presidency of Comoros.

Tuesday, 18 May 2021, Paris, French Republic: President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron hosted a ‘Summit on the Financing of African Economies’ at the Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris. 

Thirty heads of state and government as well as leaders of international organisations partook at the summit. 

Goal thereof is to create a partnership between the richer countries, and the ones in Africa as well as an investment climate vis-à-vis the private sector. 

President Alassane Ouattara and President of Mali, Bah N’Daw – Picture by Presidency of Ivory Coast.

The participant countries, and those who signed the final declaration are: Algeria, Angola, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, Egypt, Ethiopia, France President Emmanuel Macron, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mali President Bah N’Daw, Mauritius, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, The Netherlands, Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, Portugal, Rwanda President Paul Kagame, Saudi Arabia, Senegal President Macky Sall, Spain, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, Sudan, Tanzania, Chad, Togo President Faure Gnassingbé, Tunisia President Kais Saied, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zambia. 
Beyond the countries, the Chairperson of the African Union, Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo President of DR Congo; the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat; the President of the European Council Charles Michel; the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

The Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva as well as the Director-General of the WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala were likewise in attendance. 

President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, and President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum – Picture by Presidency of Ivory Coast.


The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented economic crisis worldwide, with disastrous social consequences. After 25 years of continuous growth, Africa is severely hit and has suffered a recession in 2020. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that additional financing of up to $285 billion would be needed during 2021- 25 for African countries to step up the spending response to the pandemic, with about half of it for African low-income countries. The middle-income countries also require special attention. Absent a collective action, the financing and objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s 2063 Agenda will be compromised. 

Most regions of the world are now launching massive post-pandemic recovery plans, using their huge monetary and fiscal instruments. But most African economies suffer the lack of adequate capacities and such instruments to do the same. We cannot afford leaving the African economies behind, was the summit’s paramount message. 

For further information


French Presidency – Final declaration: 

https://www.elysee.fr/admin/upload/default/0001/10/8cafcd2d4c6fbc57cd41f96c99f7aede6bd351f1.pdf

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