Rebeca Grynspan, a Costa Rican official, will be the new head of the next General Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), according to the Spanish President Pedro Sánchez’s announcement of the United Nations trade and development agency.
Rebeca Grynspan is thus the first Central American economist, and current Ibero-American Secretary General, to occupy this position at UNCTAD.
“I am grateful and honoured by the trust that UN Secretary-General António Guterres has placed in me with this appointment as UNCTAD Secretary-General,” said Grynspan. “I look forward to bringing my experience and commitment to development to this unique organization, whose history, mandate and world-renowned expertise make it a key ally for all countries facing the challenges of post-pandemic recovery.”
The senior official added: “I believe that at this critical moment, UNCTAD can make an essential contribution to a fairer, more sustainable and inclusive recovery for all.”
Grynspan has had a prolific career, serving in a number of senior roles, including Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
She has also been UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, member of the High Level Group on Financing for Development and Vice President of Costa Rica (1994 to 1998).
UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General Isabelle Durant welcomed the appointment, saying: “This is great news for UNCTAD. The timely addition of Ms. Grynspan as our Secretary-General will be key to guiding us in the implementation of a new chapter and mandate that will be defined during our 15th Ministerial Conference, UNCTADXNUMX, in October this year.”
The appointment of Rebeca Grynspan is another high-profile appointment for the Government of Costa Rica, following that of the former Minister of Foreign Trade, Anabel González, who at the beginning of May 2021 was appointed as Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
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