CAF promotes regional dialogue and Ecuador's competitiveness with launch of International Economic Forum 2026

CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean - held a high-level event in Quito to formalize the launching in Ecuador of the II International Economic Forum and the Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 Business Roundtable, as well as to sign a non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreement vital for the design of the country's national competitiveness policy.

The event was attended by Sergio Díaz-Granados, executive president of CAF; Sariha Moya, minister of Economy and Finance; and Luis Alberto Jaramillo, minister of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment, who led discussions on the importance of productive development and competitiveness. In addition, the event brought together key trade and business leaders from various sectors of the Ecuadorian economy, who actively participated in the expanded dialogue, expressing a strategic commitment to the pillars of productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of the private sector.

Ecuador joins CAF's global dialogue

During the event, CAF Executive President Sergio Díaz-Granados presented the vision and details of the next edition of the International Economic Forum and the Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 Business Roundtable, to be held January 28-30 in Panama City.

This forum, promoted by CAF, has established itself as a key platform for dialogue, cooperation and regional coordination, bringing together heads of state, ministers, business leaders and international experts. The main objective of the meeting is to strengthen public-private articulation, promote sustainable investments and position Latin America in the global development agenda.

The Forum 2026 talks will be aimed at highlighting the strategic role of the private sector in development, with special emphasis on the promotion of investments and modernization of infrastructure, the coordinated progress of the green, digital and energy transitions, and the strengthening of public-private partnerships as an essential tool for regional growth.

The Latin American and Caribbean Business Roundtable will be a high-level space promoted by CAF, which will connect the region's exportable supply with global demand, strengthening trade, attracting investment and promoting strategic alliances for development.

Technical cooperation for a new competitiveness policy

As part of the event, the signing of the non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreement "Towards a New Competitiveness Policy for Ecuador" took place. The agreement was signed by CAF's Executive President, Sergio Diaz-Granados, and the Minister of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment, Luis Alberto Jaramillo.

This cooperation, in the amount of USD 450,000, has as its main objective to support the National Government in the design of a comprehensive strategy to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the productive sector. The resources will be managed by the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment, and will seek to generate technical capacities for the formulation of effective public policies in this area.

In this regard, Sergio Diaz-Granados, CAF's executive president, said: "The signing of this technical cooperation represents a step forward in terms of productivity. We are not only providing resources, but we are also investing in the design of a Public Competitiveness Policy for Ecuador. This is essential for the country to lay the foundations for sustained growth, driven by a modern and resilient productive sector".

Minister Luis Alberto Jaramillo, for his part, highlighted the importance of the alliance: "This agreement with CAF will allow us to generate a rigorous diagnosis and a clear roadmap to modernize our productive sector. We need a competitiveness policy that transcends government terms and that focuses on technification, innovative investment and the insertion of our value-added products in the global chain.