Statement by H.E. Edgar Abraham Amador Zamora - 111th Meeting of the Development Committee - April 24, 2025

Jul 19, 2026

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Statement by H.E. Edgar Abraham Amador Zamora to the 111th Meeting of the Development Committee (April 24, 2025) emphasizes using collective policy tools to respond to global economic uncertainty, inflation, and weakened growth. It links job creation to prosperity, calls for investment attraction and productive investment mechanisms, and highlights the role of SMEs. The statement addresses education setbacks from COVID-19, workforce skills alignment, innovation and digitalization, and tailored measures across agriculture, manufacturing, and services to support inclusive, sustainable development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

Background and economic context

Jobs, prosperity, and policy instruments

Trade, investment, and regional value chains

Incentives for quality jobs and competitiveness

Education, skills, and workforce alignment

Human mobility and job opportunities

Private sector, innovation, and technology

SMEs, digital transformation, and inclusion

Sector-focused measures and social inclusion

Agriculture, manufacturing, and services

Education, labor reforms, and financing

Protecting workers’ rights and enabling mobility

World Bank role and next steps

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors ofthe Bank and the Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries) ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH MEETING WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24, 2025 DC/S/2025-0022 April 24, 2025 Statement by H.E. Edgar Abraham Amador Zamora Minister of Finance and Public Credit Mexico On behalf of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and The Kingdom of Spain Statement by H.E. Edgar Abraham Amador Zamora Minister of Finance and Public Credit Mexico On behalf of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and The Kingdom of Spain 111th Meeting of the Development Committee April 24, 2025 Washington, DC The Development Committee 2025 provides a unique opportunity to address current global challenges and build the collective will needed to meet the expectations of the people we serve, especially for the poor and most vulnerable peoples in our countries, for the women, children and youth who deserve a better future. Jobs are indeed the path to prosperity; we could not have a better title for this year’s meeting of the Development Committee. Large uncertainties in the world economy are already leading to a downgrade in economic growth forecasts, and continued inflation. This is the time to strengthen our collective policy instruments to mitigate the adverse effects of the global context to drive sustainable and lasting growth. The reconfiguration of international trade offers an opportunity for emerging economies to strengthen their position in global manufacturing and services, including by strengthening regional value chains. It provides the incentives to attract investments, generate quality jobs, and improve the competitiveness of local industries, especially if strategies help to integrate small and medium-sized enterprises into production value chains. However, the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent crises have left significant setbacks in education and the productive capacity of many economies. The loss of learning in mathematics and reading has reduced the labor skills of millions of people, affected the supply of skilled workers and limited the potential for economic growth. This context requires a comprehensive strategy that allows for the alignment of job training to the needs of greatest growth sectors. Millions of people each year leave their communities for lack of job opportunities. A comprehensive strategy for attracting investments and creating quality jobs will go a long way in providing job opportunities for people in human mobility. They can become a strong engine of economic growth and positive regional integration. The mobilization of private resources is one of the main drivers of job creation and economic development. A broad agreement between governments, the private sector, and society is essential. Establishing clear mechanisms to promote productive investment and strengthen the business ecosystem is the first step into generating a virtuous cycle of economic growth, job creation and enhanced prosperity. The private sector, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, will play a central role in this process. These companies represent most of the employment in middle-income economies and have the greatest development potential in low-income economies, but they often face unsurmountable barriers to their subsistence and participation in global markets. Special focused policy instruments are needed to ensure their sustainability. We recognize the critical role of innovation, digitalization, and technology in addressing development challenges faced by middle-income countries (MICs) . These are essential elements to transition from investment-driven growth to sustainable and inclusive growth. Innovation and technology are key in addressing structural challenges

FAQs

What core development priorities does the statement highlight for the 111th Development Committee meeting?

It prioritizes strengthening collective policy instruments, accelerating job creation and inclusive growth, and improving productivity and competitiveness through innovation and digitalization.

How does the statement connect education and skills to economic outcomes?

It links learning losses in mathematics and reading to reduced labor skills, constraining the supply of skilled workers and limiting growth potential. It calls for strategies aligning job training with the needs of high-growth sectors.

What role are private resources and SMEs expected to play?

The statement presents private resources as a main driver of job creation and economic development, stressing that SMEs need targeted policy instruments to overcome barriers to participation in global markets.

Jul 19, 2026

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