The region only received 11 million of the 111 million dollars raised by the Organization from voluntary contributions of the States, detailed the third secretary of Cuba’s mission in Vienna, Marlen Redondo, during the 37th session of the Program and Budget Committee.

We emphasize that, due to the pandemic, Latin America and the Caribbean faced the worst crisis on record and the greatest economic contraction in the developing world, Redondo said.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and investment fell by 7.7 percent and 20 percent, respectively, according to data provided by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), she added.

UNIDO has an essential role to play in the process of recovery from the crisis generated by the pandemic in all regions, she said.

‘Therefore, we urge the Organization to analyze the contradictory situation regarding the resources allocated to Latin America and the Caribbean and to present possible solutions to this problem,’ she stated.

rly/omr/mem/ro