SANTIAGO, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The United Nation's Latin American arm Cepal forecast on Thursday the region's economy would grow 1.2 percent in 2017 and 2.2 percent in 2018.
The largest economies in the Latin America, Brazil and Mexico, will grow 0.7 and 2.2 percent this year respectively, while next year they will grow 2.0 and 2.4 percent, Cepal said.
Argentina's economy is seen growing 2.4 percent in 2017, below the government's forecast, and 2.7 percent next year. Colombia's gross domestic product was forecast to grow 1.8 percent in 2017 and 2.6 percent in 2018.
Venezuela's economy is expected to contract 8 percent this year and 4 percent in 2018, Cepal said. (Reporting by Fabian Cambero, Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)