Havana, Feb 27 (RHC)-- Havana will host the 37th Period of Sessions of the Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean (CEPAL). The gathering, considered the regional entity's most important biannual meeting, is set for May 7th through the 11th.

CEPAL Executive Secretary, Alicia Barcena made the announcement during her meeting Monday in Santiago de Chile with Cuba's Foreign Trade and Investment Minister, Rodrigo Malmierca.

At the Havana meeting, the regional entity will present a report on its activities and will urge regional governments to reflect on development strategies toward achieving the Sustainable Development Objectives contained in Agenda 2030 of the United Nations.

Minister Malmierca said the CEPAL meeting in Havana will serve as a good opportunity to exchange and debate on development advances at both national and regional levels, as well as agree on concrete, collective strategies and actions toward that aim.

The UN official, for her part, pointed out that the meeting will prioritize the need to achieve equality in Latin America and the Caribbean. Alicia Barcena insisted that the issue of equality continues to be at the center of all proposals by CEPAL.  She further highlighted the need to put an end to the culture of privilege so that regional countries can advance together towards sustainable development.

CEPAL's period of sessions is the entity's most important inter-governmental meeting in terms of orienting the work of the UN regional commission.  It includes a forum to analyze relevant economic and social development issues that impact countries in the region.