Argentinian to helm UN economic commission for Latin America and Caribbean

A former Argentinian economic minister has been appointed Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

José Luis Machinea was the Economy Minister from December 1999 to February 2001, and he has also worked extensively in the private sector. He replaces José Antonio Ocampo, who is now the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

He has worked as a consultant to the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, as president of an Argentinian economic and social think-tank, and president of a private consulting firm.

Mr. Machinea has also served as president of Argentina's central bank, as under-secretary of political economy, and under-secretary of planning. He holds a Ph.D. in economics and has taught graduate courses in macroeconomics, banking and monetary policy in Argentina.

Most recently he has been a special expert in integration and trade at the Inter-American Development Bank.