OAS Launches the Private Sector Initiative of the Americas and Appoints Bettina Bulgheroni as Chair

Press Release

OAS Launches the Private Sector Initiative of the Americas and Appoints Bettina Bulgheroni as Chair

With the participation of more than 300 business leaders from across the hemisphere, Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin announced the launch of the Private Sector Initiative of the Americas during the OAS High-Level Private Sector Dialogue held on Sunday, June 21, in Panama City, in the framework of the 56th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly. The initiative aims to move from dialogue to concrete impact by leveraging the OAS's convening power to bring together governments, businesses, social actors, and regional financial institutions throughout the hemisphere in support of a shared prosperity agenda for the Americas.

During the same event, the Secretary General appointed distinguished Argentine business leader Bettina Bulgheroni as Chair of the Initiative. With a recognized international track record in business and philanthropy, Ms. Bulgheroni serves as President of Fundación Educando and has worked with the OAS for the past seven years to promote educational opportunities for young people and Indigenous communities in Argentina.

"Bettina Bulgheroni is a respected leader known for building bridges among countries and sectors of society," said Secretary General Ramdin, noting that her experience and leadership will provide renewed momentum to public-private dialogue focused on translating the hemisphere's potential into concrete actions for investment, development, and prosperity.

According to Secretary General Ramdin, the projected 2.3 percent economic growth rate for the Americas in 2026 is insufficient to close the structural gaps facing the region. He noted that informality, fiscal pressures, uneven digital infrastructure, and shortcomings in human capital development continue to pose significant challenges. He emphasized that the private sector's ability to generate jobs and prosperity grows when governments provide stability, legal certainty, and sound governance.

The Secretary General stressed the need for the creation of the Private Sector Initiative of the Americas to serve as a bridge between governments and businesses. The Initiative will address high levels of informality and work to remove unnecessary barriers that hinder business growth and competitiveness by promoting practical solutions in areas such as investment attraction, logistics, customs modernization, and infrastructure, where public-private collaboration can generate tangible results and significant economic impact.

The Initiative seeks to build a collaborative platform connecting governments, businesses, and strategic partners to advance the competitiveness and prosperity of the Americas. Its initial efforts will focus on key areas identified by the private sector: energy and critical resources, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and talent development for the jobs of the future, as well as trade and investment facilitation-fundamental pillars for harnessing the new wave of opportunities across the hemisphere.

Reference: E-079/26