The Tenth Ministerial Conference on the Information Society and the Digital Transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean will be held at the main office of the Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro), São Paulo, Brazil, on 1 and 2 December 2026.

Geographical location: Brazil is located in eastern South America. According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, as of 1 July 2024, it is the fifth-largest country in the world, with a total area of 8,511,965 km and an estimated population of 212.6 million. It shares borders with 10 other South American countries and territories and has one of the longest continuous coastlines of any country, measuring 7,491 km.
São Paulo is the capital of the State of the same name. It is located in the Southeast region of Brazil and was founded on 25 January 1554 by Jesuit missionaries. The city grew considerably in the nineteenth century thanks to coffee production and exports. Subsequently, its development was driven by industrialization, and it became one of the country’s major economic centres.
São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, with approximately 11.5 million inhabitants, according to the 2022 census. It is considered the country’s financial and economic capital owing to its dynamic industrial, commercial, technology and services sectors. Unlike Brasília, São Paulo is not a planned city. Instead, it has grown gradually into a vast and architecturally diverse metropolis, with broad avenues and many distinctive neighbourhoods.
The city stands out for its rich cultural heritage and diverse influences, owing to the arrival of successive waves of migrants, especially of Italian, Japanese, Arab and Portuguese descent, and to the major contributions of Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian populations. São Paulo is home to major museums, art galleries, theatres and cultural centres. Notable attractions are the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), Ibirapuera Park and Paulista Avenue, recognized for their financial, cultural and commercial activity.
São Paulo is also a major artistic hub in Latin America, with an impressive offering of contemporary art, galleries, cultural institutions and international fairs. Its cultural strength, social diversity and economic importance make it one of the most influential metropolises in Brazil and the region.

Climate: Owing to its geographical location, most of Brazil has a tropical climate, with some subtropical regions in the south of the country. São Paulo has a humid subtropical climate,
with temperatures ranging between 12 °C and 28 °C throughout the year. The city has two relatively distinct seasons: one warm and rainy (from October to March) and the other cool and dry (from June to August). Temperatures may vary depending on the time of year and weather conditions.
Useful information for your stay
Local currency: The currency unit is the real (R$) (plural reais). Brazil maintains a floating exchange rate with daily variations. As of mid-October 2026, the exchange rate is approximately US$ 1 = R$ 5.05.
Local time: UTC or GMT-3.
Electricity: Voltage varies in Brazil depending on the city. In São Paulo, the voltage is 127 volts (60 Hz frequency). Hotels provide plugs for both voltages (110 and 220) and portable adapters are readily available in electrical supply stores. “N” type plugs, with three prongs, are used in the country. For safety reasons, plugs are set into the wall, ensuring that the electrical connection and supply are only available when prongs are fully inserted.
Tipping: Tips are not included in hotel or restaurant bills. It is usual to leave a tip of 10% of the total bill.
Taxis or transfers: Visitors are advised to use taxi applications and avoid taking a taxi directly in the street, especially at night. Uber, 99 or other applications may be used.
Official taxis are black with horizontal yellow and green stripes on the front doors. They may also be grey and white.
Telephone country code: The international telephone code for Brazil is +55 and the area code for the city of São Paulo is 11.
Official language: Portuguese is the official language of Brazil.

The Tenth Ministerial Conference on the Information Society and the Digital Transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean will be held at the main office of the Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro), São Paulo, Brazil, on 1 and 2 December 2026.
Address: Serpro - Rua Olívia Guedes Penteado, 941 - Capela do Socorro, São Paulo - SP, CEP: 04766-900, Brazil
Telephone: (+55) 11 2173 1322

Meeting coordination: The meeting is organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Government of Brazil, through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil.
The contacts are:
Luis F. Yáñez (general coordination)
Secretary of the Commission - Office of the Secretary of the Commission - ECLAC, United Nations
Tel: (+56) 2 2210 2275 - Email: [email protected]

Alejandro Patiño (general coordination)
Economic Affairs Officer - Division of Production, Productivity and Management - ECLAC, United Nations
Tel: (+56) 2 2210 2139 - Email: [email protected]

Luis Flores (registration and accreditation)
Research Assistant - Office of the Secretary of the Commission - ECLAC, United Nations
Telephone: (+56) 2 2210 2084 - Email: [email protected]

Catalina Campos (logistics)
Administrative Assistant - Conference Services Unit - ECLAC, United Nations
Tel: (+56) 2 2210 2220 - Email: [email protected]

Hotel reservations
The Government of Brazil will provide a shuttle service to the main office of Serpro for participants staying at the following hotels:

Blue Tree Premium Verbo Divino
Address: Rua Verbo Divino, 1323, São Paulo
Email: [email protected]
https://www.bluetree.com.br/hotel/blue-tree-premium-verbo-divino

Intercity Nações Unidas
Address: Rua Fernandes Moreira, 1371, São Paulo
Email: [email protected]
https://www.intercityhoteis.com.br/hotel-sao-paulo/hotel-intercity-nacoes-unidas

Estanplaza International
Address: Rua Fernandes Moreira, 1293, São Paulo
Email: [email protected]
https://www.estanplaza.com.br/hoteis/estanplaza-international
The following link includes more hotel options at special rates (shuttle service to the main office of Serpro is not included):
NIC.br - Núcleo de Informação e Coordenação do Ponto BR

Reservations must be requested directly from the selected hotel. Members of delegations are responsible for making their own reservations, and are advised to check that hotels have indeed processed requests and to obtain a reservation number or confirmation code.
To hold a reservation, hotels will require credit card information. Under the no-show policy applied in Brazil, any reservation may be cancelled up to 24 hours prior to check-in, failing which the first night will be charged in the event of a no-show.

Requirements for entering Brazil: Bearers of ordinary, diplomatic or official passports should request their visa, as applicable, at the closest Brazilian embassy or consulate.
See the following link for information on countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Brazil: https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/vistos/quadro-geral-de-regime-de-vistos-para-e....
All health requirements, such as compulsory vaccinations, must also be met prior to entering the country. International travellers are advised to update their vaccination status before arriving, in accordance with the vaccination schedules of their country of origin or residence, in particular for yellow fever, polio, measles, rubella, diphtheria and tetanus.

Local transport: Participants are responsible for their own round-trip transport between the airport, the hotel and the meeting venue.
Only registered taxis that are available at the airport should be used. Official taxis are black with horizontal yellow and green stripes on the front doors. They may also be grey and white.
Visitors are advised to use taxi applications and avoid taking a taxi directly in the street, especially at night. Uber, 99 or other applications may be used.

Online registration and collection of credentials: An online registration system will be available on the meeting website (https://conferenciaelac.cepal.org/) from Monday, 26 October to Monday, 23 November 2026.
Credentials will be issued on Sunday, 29 November, from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and on Tuesday, 1 December, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the main office of Serpro. Each participant will receive an identification badge, which, for security purposes, must be shown to enter all meetings.
Should further information on registration and accreditation of participants be required, please do not hesitate to contact Luis Flores ([email protected])
Registering through the online system does not exempt delegations from the requirement to provide official notification to the Office of the Secretary of the Commission indicating the name of the head of delegation and all accompanying members.

Opening session: The opening session of the Tenth Ministerial Conference on the Information Society and the Digital Transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean will take place on Tuesday, 1 December 2026 at 10.15 a.m., at the main office of Serpro (https://maps.app.goo.gl/VgLBA8SuzEXpnwow8).

Internet: The offices and conference rooms set aside for the meeting will have wireless Internet access (WiFi).

Languages: The languages of the meeting will be Spanish, English and Portuguese. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

Documents: This will be a paper-smart meeting. All official documents and statements will be made available to read or download on the meeting website (https://conferenciaelac.cepal.org/10/es/documentos).
Participants are advised to bring their laptop computer, tablet or other mobile device to the meeting, since only a limited number of printed documents will be available.