An unprecedented Ibero-American setback
South America has not stood out in recent years as an example of stability and prosperity. The arrival of the pandemic, as could not be otherwise, has further worsened a situation that, if it was already difficult to overcome adversity before, now sees how the forecasts place the extreme poverty threshold at one of the worst rates in living memory. Up to 30 years of regression in the indicators in this aspect, as well as 10 years in terms of economic indicators. These data highlight what is already considered to be the worst situation Latin America has experienced in the last 125 years.
If the coronavirus has demonstrated anything, it is that multilateralism is a tool that has been as indispensable as it has been absent throughout this year under the effects of the pandemic. At this point, coordination between countries has become an essential factor in the distribution of a vaccine that will hopefully bring us closer to the long-awaited normality. This collaboration has been conspicuous by its absence when it has been most needed. "We have had a nationalist response", Rebeca Grynspan, Ibero-American secretary general, ventured to say at the online event organised by Europa Press, moderated by Candelas Martín de Cabiedes, director of business development at Europa Press, and broadcast on its YouTube channel. A nationalism leading to counterproductive measures which, together with the problems of production and supply of doses of the different vaccines, have slowed down the immunisation process.
The pandemic has caught everyone off guard - it is fair to say that there is never a good time to confront such a foe - and has weakened cooperation efforts which have faded with the aim of vaccinating one's own population while leaving those of a neighbour behind. Latin America had to watch its economy collapse while accumulating almost 30% of the total number of deaths from COVID-19. And yet, according to Grynspan, South American governments acted quickly and effectively to try to curb a virus that, far from being stopped by the measures, is destroying the lives of many and the economy of all.
On the other hand, prosperity is not going to return to South America unless efforts are made, which the various governments intend to implement as soon as possible. The pandemic has brought with it an exponential increase in digital transformation, and with it, teleworking, so loved by some and detested by others. Society has been forced to make a leap in terms of new technologies and format adaptation. The Ibero-American Secretary General stressed that this progress will be nothing without the support required by small and medium-sized enterprises, which are experiencing the most dramatic effects of the coronavirus.
It should not be forgotten that Latin America has strong inequalities that are now translated into a significant digital divide. Leaving no country behind has become a fundamental objective in what should be a large-scale investment to make that transcendental leap in the commitment to new technologies. The necessary infrastructures, as Rebeca Grynspan pointed out, are absolutely necessary to be able to optimally develop this advance and, unfortunately, they are still far from becoming a reality. The necessary resources are not available to cope with what should be an "unprecedented leap forward".
In order to build and bet on the future, there is no better alternative than the actors of the future. This was stated by Grynspan, who focused part of her speech on the need to offer young people responsibilities and opportunities for decent employment. "We don't lack talent, we lack opportunities," she said. The fear of failure, which has become entrenched in a fearful society, reduces the number of young entrepreneurs with new and ground-breaking ideas that provide innovative solutions to unknown problems. Entrepreneurship without risk is an impossible task that is far from contributing to society in the way that is required today.