Coordinating Growth — What Sonora Can Learn from Namibia

BI5ON LIVE SUMMARY

In this BI5ON Live session, we sit down with Andrés Fortunato (Harvard Kennedy School) and Miguel Ángel Santos (Tec de Monterrey) to explore a proven framework for public–private coordination that’s already helping countries unlock export-led growth. We’ll dive deep into their recent book Public–Private Dialogs to Spur Export-Led Growth: The Case of Productivity Taskforces in Namibia, and ask: how can Sonora adapt this model to turn conversation into action?

From tactical design to real-world barriers, from Namibia’s experience to the streets of Hermosillo — this is a practical, direct conversation for those serious about growing better, together.

SPEAKERS

Andres Fortunato
Researcher at the Growth Lab, Harvard Kennedy School

Andrés specializes in economic complexity, growth diagnostics, and public–private collaboration. He recently led the Growth Lab's 2024 research engagement in Hermosillo, Sonora, identifying concrete paths for green, export-oriented diversification. He is co-author of the book featured in this session. View full profile.

Miguel Angel Santos
Dean, School of Government and Public Transformation, Tec de Monterrey

Previously Director of Applied Research at Harvard’s Growth Lab and Professor at LSE and the University of Chicago, Miguel has led over a dozen national and subnational growth strategies across Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East — including the 2018 growth diagnostic of Hermosillo. He now leads Ladder, a new regional development lab from Tec focused on bridging data and decision-making in territories across Mexico and Latin America. View full profile.

FEATURED BOOK

Public–Private Dialogs to Spur Export-Led Growth: The Case of Productivity Taskforces in Namibia, written by Andrés Fortunato and Miguel Ángel Santos, the guests featured in this BI5ON Live session.

RELATED RESEARCH

Growth Diagnostics for Hermosillo, Sonora
Explore the 2024 and 2018 studies led by Andrés Fortunato and Miguel Ángel Santos, which identified key constraints and opportunities for economic growth in Sonora.