The Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) celebrated the “SELA 50th Anniversary Concert” on Thursday, 5 June, in the José Félix Ribas Hall of the Teresa Carreño Theatre in Caracas, with a performance by the Latin American Instruments Orchestra (ODILA).

In his opening speech, the Permanent Secretary of SELA, Ambassador Clarems Endara, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to regional integration as a fundamental axis for overcoming the shared challenges of Latin America and the Caribbean and building a more just, inclusive and sustainable future.

Ambassador Endara emphasised that this half-century of existence “represents much more than an institutional commemoration; it is a living testimony to a shared vision and a collective effort to strengthen the ties between our nations.” He expressed deep gratitude to the Member States, multilateral and cooperation partners, as well as the staff of the Permanent Secretariat of SELA, for their commitment, professionalism and constant dedication.

The Permanent Secretary called for recognition of both the region’s potential and historical debts. He recalled that more than 32% of the Latin American population lives in poverty, and nearly 13% in extreme poverty, realities that “are not just numbers, but millions of faces that continue to wait for social justice.”

In his assessment of the last few decades, Endara acknowledged the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated structural gaps such as informal employment, gender inequality, digital exclusion and school dropout rates, affecting the most vulnerable sectors in particular. However, he highlighted the resilience shown by the peoples of the region and stressed that “this capacity for resistance must now be transformed into a capacity for structural transformation.”

Faced with this scenario, the Permanent Secretary emphasised that “regional integration is no longer an option but a strategic necessity.” In this regard, he reaffirmed that SELA would continue to be a vital space for articulating public policies, promoting intergovernmental dialogue, fostering cooperation between economies and consolidating a strong regional voice on the international stage.

Looking ahead, the Permanent Secretary of SELA reaffirmed his belief in integration: “I firmly believe in integration as a tool for achieving fair and equitable development for our region. Today, with our sights set on the next 50 years, we renew our commitment to work for a more integrated and equitable Latin America and the Caribbean, with greater opportunities for all.”

Finally, Endara expressed his gratitude for the support of his staff and the encouragement of his family, whom he described as “indispensable” on this journey, and concluded with a clear message: “Thank you for believing in SELA. Thank you for believing in Latin America and the Caribbean. For more and better integration.”

For his part, Ambassador Julio César Pineda proposed a profound reflection on the past, present and future of regional integration, highlighting the relevance of this ideal as a driving force for development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

During his speech, the Venezuelan diplomat stressed that celebrating half a century of existence is not only an institutional milestone, but also an opportunity to critically review the progress made and the challenges ahead. “We are nobody in the international system if we are alone. That is why integration is not an option, it is a historical necessity,” Pineda said.

“How wonderful would it be if we had a single Latin American passport, a single diplomatic voice, as is the case in Europe. Latin America and the Caribbean have the wealth, history and culture to achieve this,” he stated, calling for progress towards realistic, practical and deeply supportive integration

The diplomat also advocated for the revival of regional cooperation forums such as the Andean Community of Nations and Mercosur, promoting intra-regional trade and legal and institutional cooperation. He even suggested the creation of a Latin American Constitution as an academic and political project that would build consensus on key issues such as migration, the environment and common defence.

In his closing remarks, he quoted President Nelson Mandela: ‘If you want to go fast, walk alone; if you want to go far, walk together.” For Pineda, this is the central call that Latin America and the Caribbean must assume in this new stage of SELA: to walk together, with more and better integration, as the only path towards fair, free and fraternal development.

In the presence of SELA member states, the diplomatic corps accredited to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and SELA officials, the Latin American Instruments Orchestra (ODILA) presented a sample of the original tones and rhythms of different instruments representative of the culture of Latin America and the Caribbean.

ODILA is part of Venezuela’s Intangible Cultural Heritage and performed for the first time in 1983, at the same venue where SELA’s 50th Anniversary Concert was held. The main purpose of the group was to bring to life the museum’s collection of musical instruments from Latin America and the Caribbean, as part of the celebrations marking the Bicentennial of the birth of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator.

SELA was established on 17 October 1975 with the aim of strengthening intra-regional cooperation for the economic and social development of its members and of promoting a permanent system of consultation and coordination for the region to adopt common positions and strategies on economic and social issues before groups of countries, forums and international organisations, as set forth in the Panama Convention establishing SELA.

Over the past 50 years, SELA has promoted unity and dialogue among member states, fostering regional consensus on key issues for economic development, subregional integration, and the coordination of public policies. It has actively contributed to the construction of a regional agenda, currently focused on three fundamental areas: Economic Recovery, Digitalisation, and Social Development, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The “50th Anniversary Concert” was an occasion to commemorate this journey and, at the same time, a space to reaffirm the commitment of member states to the founding principles of SELA. Under the slogan “More and Better Integration,” the day became a cultural celebration with historical reflection on an institution that has built bridges since its foundation and turned challenges into opportunities.

Fifty years after its creation, SELA reiterates that it is essential to work towards regional integration through intra-regional cooperation in order to advance towards economic recovery and development for the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.