Bolivian Adhemar Guzmán Ballivián elected ALADI secretary-general

Bolivian diplomat Adhemar Guzmán Ballivián has been elected by consensus as the new secretary-general of the Latin American Integration Association, known as ALADI.

He will serve a 2026-2029 term, replacing Uruguay’s Sergio Abreu. The election took place during the organization’s 20th meeting of foreign ministers in Montevideo.

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orientations to strengthen the Association’s contribution to the process of Latin American integration

The ministers also approved a resolution outlining ALADI’s future role as a forum for negotiation and setting guidelines to strengthen Latin American integration. The organization said it would prioritize agreements that increase regional trade, promote regulatory convergence and facilitate commerce.

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prioritizing the negotiation of instruments that contribute to increasing interregional trade, advancing regulatory convergence and facilitating trade

The resolution also calls for wider use of ALADI’s existing rules to support trade in goods and services, digital commerce, investment and regional value chains. It promotes broader participation by economic actors and gives priority support to women entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Member countries agreed to continue developing digital tools for regional trade, including paperless trade, electronic certificates and payment methods, digital signatures and artificial-intelligence applications. The meeting also presented a partial agreement among ten member countries to eliminate technical barriers to trade in cosmetic products. Foreign ministers from Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay attended, along with deputy foreign ministers and other officials from ALADI’s remaining members.

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continue promoting tools applied to regional trade, including paperless trade, electronic certificates and means, digital signatures and applications based on artificial intelligence