Ibero-American States elect new Secretary-General

A Organization of the Ibero-American States intends to continue the work of regional integration through education, culture and digital transformation with the election of its new Secretary-General, Andrés Delich, today declared the representative of the body in Portugal.

“ We are very happy with this election because, somehow, it is a change within continuity ", said Ana Paula Laborinho, director of OEI in Portugal.

The sociologist Andrés Delich, former Minister of Education of Argentina, took office as Deputy Secretary-General of the OEI in 2018. He was elected unanimously by the members of the organization on 16 October 2027 to 2030.

Ana Paula Laborinho stressed that the eight years of the administration of the former Secretary-General of the organization, Mariano Jabonero, were “very successful in several areas” with 600 annual projects that reached about 22 million people throughout this period.

“ This [Delich’s] election will continue this work that has been greatly highlighted by all OEI countries,” he said, stressing that all the activity programmes and reports have been unanimously approved, revealing a consensus that is difficult to achieve in any region of the world.

According to the responsible, the organization will continue to respond to the needs of the region, which is very unequal, working for greater inclusion through education, not losing sight of digital transformation, where these “can be aid instruments or more a source of inequality”.

Ana Paula Laborinho stressed the cultural diversity of the region, which includes Latin America and the Iberian peninsula, and which can be transformed “into an economic asset, into a source of income”.

The head of the OEI in Portugal also said that the region should carry out greater integration through its languages – Portuguese and Spanish – also recalling that the OEI together with the countries of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) totals 850 million people.

Ana Paula Laborinho also spoke about academic mobility – citing the European example of the Erasmus exchange programme – which would enable greater regional integration, notably with the recognition of academic titles and a contribution to economic growth.

The OEI leader also recalled that the OEI wants to develop triangular cooperation between Latin America, Europe and Africa, where the organization and Portugal could play an important role.

Asked about the change in the political landscape in Latin America, in a turn to the right and to the far right, Ana Paula Laborinho said that the OEI has worked with all governments over the course of its 77 years and has responded to the needs presented by the countries of the region.

The Organization of Iberian American States for Education, Science and Culture is integrated by Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries, focusing on the fields of Education, Science, Culture, Multilateralism and Digital Transformation.