Latin American Council for International Relations (RIAL Council)
In 2012 Fundación Vidanta joined with the Latin American Development Bank (CAF), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Ibero-American Secretary General (SEGIB) to create and promote the development of the Latin American Council for International Relations (RIAL Council). The meeting that marked the official formation of the Council was sponsored by Fundación Vidanta and took place on October 16, 2012, at the Industrialists Club of Mexico City. The objective of the Council is to promote high-quality academic research on strategic themes that influence the integration of Latin America into the global community, and launch initiatives that help improve the quality of decision-making related to international relations in the region.
The Council was formed officially in December 2012, following the work plan established in Mexico.Its president is Ricardo Lagos, former President of Chile. The general coordinator of the project are: former Minister of Social Development of Chile, Luis Maira, and the President of the Vidanta Foundation, Roberto Russell.
They are joined by Alicia Barcena, Executive Secretary of ECLAC, Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the OAS, Enrique Garcia, President of CAF (the Latin American Development Bank), Heraldo Muñoz, Assistant Secretary General of the UN and Regional Director of the UNDP, and Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank.
Finally, the academic section of the Council is comprised of: Adrian Bonilla (Ecuador), Sandra Borda (Colombia), Cristina Eguizabal (Costa Rica), Guadalupe Gonzalez (Mexico), Rafael Hernandez (Cuba), Luis Maira (Chile), Ana Maria Sanjuan (Venezuela), Maria Regina Soares de Lima (Brazil) and Juan Gabriel Tokatlian (Argentina).
The general coordinators of the project are the former Foreign Relations Minister of Chile, Juan Gabriel Valdes, and the President of Fundación Vidanta, Roberto Russell.
workshops and seminars
International Seminar "Latin America and the Global Governance", Mexico City, 2012
Governing Board Meeting of RIAL and Academic Seminar, Buenos Aires, 2015