08:00 - 08:25

Registration

08:25 - 08:35

Remarks by Sergio Díaz-Granados – Executive President of CAF

Speaker:

Sergio Díaz-Granados

Executive President, CAF -Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean-

Colombia

Sergio Díaz-Granados

Executive President, CAF -Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean-

Colombia

Sergio Díaz-Granados has extensive experience in public and private service, both nationally and internationally, with special emphasis on regional development and integration issues. Before assuming the presidency of CAF, he served as Executive Director for Colombia at the Inter-American Development Bank. He previously held the positions of Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia, Vice Minister of Business Development and President of the Boards of Directors of Bancóldex and ProColombia. He also has been a congressman and chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee of the Colombia’s House of Representatives.

08:35 - 08:50

Remarks by José Raúl Mulino – President of Panama

Speaker:

José Raúl Mulino

President of Panama

José Raúl Mulino

President of Panama

08:50 - 09:05

Remarks by Head of State

09:05 - 09:20

Remarks by Head of State

09:20 - 09:35

Remarks by Head of State

9:35 - 9:45

Remarks by Rafael Mariano Grossi

Speaker:

Rafael Mariano Grossi

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Rafael Mariano Grossi

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency

09:45 - 09:55

Remarks by Pedro Heilbron

Speaker:

Pedro Heilbron

CEO of Copa Airlines

Pedro Heilbron

CEO of Copa Airlines

10:00 - 10:40

Economic Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean: Between Stability and Growth

This panel offers a strategic view of the economic outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on the decisions shaping the balance between macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth toward 2026. The discussion will address responsible debt management, spending efficiency, and public policy signals that strengthen confidence and drive investment, productivity, and economic diversification. The session will highlight how to preserve social gains while expanding fiscal space to respond to a more demanding and uncertain global environment.

Speakers:

Felipe Chapman

Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Panama

Gabriel Oddone

Minister of Economy and Finance of Uruguay

Sariha Moya

Minister of Economy and Finance of Ecuador

Felipe Larraín

Former Minister of Finance of Chile and Director of the Latin American Center for Economic and Social Policies at the Pontifical Catholic University

Felipe Chapman

Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Panama

Gabriel Oddone

Minister of Economy and Finance of Uruguay

Sariha Moya

Minister of Economy and Finance of Ecuador

Felipe Larraín

Former Minister of Finance of Chile and Director of the Latin American Center for Economic and Social Policies at the Pontifical Catholic University

Felipe Larraín Bascuñán, born on February 14, 1958, in Santiago, Chile, is a distinguished Chilean economist, academic, and politician. He completed his secondary education at San Ignacio El Bosque and Tabancura schools in Santiago. Later, between 1976 and 1980, he studied Commercial Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC), where he graduated in 1981. He continued his education at Harvard University, earning a master’s degree in 1983 and a PhD in Economics in 1985, with a thesis titled "Essay on Exchange Rate and Economic Activity in Developing Countries." In the academic field, Larraín has been a professor of Economics at PUC since 1996, teaching courses in Macroeconomics and International Economics. He has also worked as a consultant for various international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. In his political career, he served as Chile’s Minister of Finance during two terms: first from 2010 to 2014, and later from 2018 to 2019, both under President Sebastián Piñera's administration. During his tenure, he was recognized as "Best Finance Minister of Latin America" in 2010 and "Best Finance Minister of the Americas" in 2010 and 2018 by prestigious international publications. After leaving government, Larraín took on the role of Director of the Latin American Center for Economic and Social Policies at the Pontifical Catholic University (CLAPES UC), a position he had also held between 2014 and 2018. In this role, he has contributed to the analysis and development of public policies in Chile and Latin America. As an author, he has published 14 books and more than 120 professional articles across different regions of the world. Among his most notable works are "Macroeconomics in the Global Economy", co-authored with Jeffrey Sachs in 1993, and "The Economic Transformation of Chile", co-edited with Rodrigo Vergara in 2000. Most recently, in 2024, he edited the book "Chile 2050: One Country. Four Presidents", published by Ediciones UC, which compiles the visions of four former Chilean presidents on the future of the country.

10:45 - 11:25

Rewriting the Rules of Trade: Challenges and Opportunities for Latin America and the Caribbean

Multilateral trade is facing its greatest crisis since its creation, marked by rising protectionism, geopolitical tensions, and major powers’ pursuit of strategic autonomy. The discussion will explore how LAC can navigate this new environment, redefine its trade strategies, and seize emerging opportunities. Leaders who have been at the center of global negotiations will address issues such as 21st-century trade agreements, regional value chains, digital trade, and sustainability. The session will examine LAC’s potential role as a leader in promoting more inclusive and sustainable trade.

Speakers:

José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs

Executive Secretary of ECLAC

Amparo López Senovilla

Secretary of State for Trade of Spain

Gonzalo Gutiérrez

Secretary General of the Andean Community

María Luisa Hayem

Minister of Economy of El Salvador

Víctor Orlando Bisonó

Minister of Industry, Trade and MSMEs of the Dominican Republic

Gabriela Frías

Journalist and CNN Presenter

José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs

Executive Secretary of ECLAC

He was appointed Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) by the United Nations Secretary-General on September 1, 2022, and assumed his position on October 2 of the same year. At the International Labour Organization (ILO), where he joined in 2005, he served as Executive Director of the Employment Sector, Deputy Director-General for Policy (2013 to 2015), and Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean (2015 to 2018). Before joining the ILO, he was Director of the Trade Unit at the Organization of American States (1998 to 2005). Additionally, he served as Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (1997 to 1998), Executive President of the Costa Rican Development Corporation (1988 to 1990), and Chief Economist and Executive Director of the Federation of Private Entities of Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic (FEDEPRICAP) (1990 to 1996). In the academic field, he has authored numerous publications on development policies, trade, productive transformation, competitiveness, and employment. He has taught at the University of Costa Rica, the National University of Heredia (Costa Rica), the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom), and Georgetown University (United States). Salazar-Xirinachs holds a Master’s in Development Economics, a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Costa Rica.

Amparo López Senovilla

Secretary of State for Trade of Spain

Gonzalo Gutiérrez

Secretary General of the Andean Community

María Luisa Hayem

Minister of Economy of El Salvador

Víctor Orlando Bisonó

Minister of Industry, Trade and MSMEs of the Dominican Republic

Gabriela Frías

Journalist and CNN Presenter

Gabriela Frías, born on March 8, 1971, in Mexico City, is a distinguished journalist with over two decades of experience. She graduated with honors from the Carlos Septién School of Journalism and, in 2007, completed the Executive Program at INCAE Business School in Costa Rica. She began her professional career at the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City as Deputy Director of the External Relations Department. Later, she joined the Reforma newspaper as a business reporter. In 1998, she was a presenter and reporter for Negocios México, a joint project between Reforma and CNN en Español. In 2000, Frías joined CNN en Español as a producer and presenter of the program Economía y Finanzas. Since 2002, she has been the presenter and producer of En Efectivo, a morning program on personal finance that delivers economic information in an accessible way for the audience. Over her career at CNN, she has hosted programs such as CNN Dinero, Conclusiones, and Portafolio Global. In September 2023, Gabriela Frías took on the role of anchor for Panorama Mundial, the prime-time international newscast of CNN en Español, solidifying her position as one of the most influential figures in Spanish-language journalism. Throughout her career, Frías has interviewed business leaders and key figures in the economic sphere, establishing herself as a respected voice in financial journalism across Latin America. Her commitment to making economic information accessible has significantly contributed to financial education for her audience.

11:35 - 12:05

Keynote by James Robinson – 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics

Amid a reconfigured international order, marked by tensions among major powers, wars, energy and food crises, and an ongoing green and digital transition, the relationship between Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe needs to take a qualitative leap. This panel will examine how to build a new shared strategic agenda that goes beyond traditional cooperation frameworks and is grounded in mutual interests in trade and investment, energy and food security, climate action, digital transformation, and the defense of multilateralism.

Speakers:

James Robinson

2024 Nobel Prize in Economics, renowned economist and political scientist, co-author of “Why Nations Fail” and “The Narrow Corridor”

Julissa Reynoso

Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP

James Robinson

2024 Nobel Prize in Economics, renowned economist and political scientist, co-author of “Why Nations Fail” and “The Narrow Corridor”

Julissa Reynoso

Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP

She holds a B.A. in Government from Harvard University, an M.A. in Philosophy from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom and a law degree from Columbia University Law School. She was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States in 1982, where she grew up in New York City. Prior to being nominated and confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, she served as Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden, and as Co-Chair of the White House Gender Policy Council. During President Barack Obama's Administration, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and then as U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay. Prior to joining the Biden Administration, she was a partner at the international law firm Winston and Strawn in New York. She served on the faculty of Columbia University's School of Law and School of Public and International Affairs, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Law Institute and the Inter-American Dialogue. He has published extensively in English and Spanish on a variety of topics including comparative law, regulatory reform, community organizing, immigration policy, and Latin American politics, both for the popular press and academic journals.

12:10 - 12:50

Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe: Toward a New Shared Strategic Agenda

Amid a reconfigured international order, marked by tensions among major powers, wars, energy and food crises, and an ongoing green and digital transition, the relationship between Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe needs to take a qualitative leap. This panel will explore how to build a new shared strategic agenda that goes beyond traditional cooperation frameworks and is grounded in mutual interests in trade and investment, energy and food security, climate action, digital transformation, and the defense of multilateralism.

Speakers:

Enrico Letta

Former Prime Minister of Italy

Josep Borrell

Former Vice President of the European Commission

Eduardo Frei

Former President of Chile

Laura Chinchilla

Former President of Costa Rica

Enrico Letta

Former Prime Minister of Italy

Josep Borrell

Former Vice President of the European Commission

Eduardo Frei

Former President of Chile

Laura Chinchilla

Former President of Costa Rica

(Costa Rica) es politóloga y fue la primera mujer en ser elegida Presidenta de Costa Rica (2010-2014). Anteriormente, se desempeñó como Ministra de Seguridad Pública (1996-1998), Congresista (2002-2006), Ministra de Justicia (2006-2008) y Vicepresidenta (2006-2008). Durante su carrera política, la Sra. Chinchilla impulsó medidas de reforma policial y judicial para abordar el crimen y la violencia, el gobierno digital y abierto, la promoción de los derechos de las mujeres y la protección de la primera infancia. También impulsó políticas de sostenibilidad ambiental, especialmente en la preservación de la biodiversidad marina, por lo que fue distinguida con premios internacionales.

08:00 - 09:00

Registration

10:35 - 10:50

Remarks by Head of State

10:50 - 11:05

Remarks by Head of State

11:05 - 11:15

Remarks by Guest

11:15 - 11:25

Remarks by Guest

11:30 - 12:10

Challenges and Opportunities of Climate Action and Biodiversity: LAC as a Region of Solutions

This panel will explore how Latin America and the Caribbean can turn their natural wealth into a platform for global leadership, shifting from being perceived as a “vulnerable region” to becoming a region of solutions for climate and biodiversity. The discussion will examine the decisions needed to align conservation, development, and competitiveness: integrating biodiversity goals into national and sectoral plans, strengthening regulatory and institutional frameworks, and accelerating a just transition that reduces emissions without widening social gaps. It will also address mechanisms to scale up climate and nature finance (public, private, and multilateral), mobilize investment in nature-based solutions with verifiable metrics, and ensure that benefits—jobs, productivity, and well-being—translate into sustainable and inclusive prosperity by 2030.

Speakers:

Alicia Bárcena Ibarra

Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico

Juan Carlos Navarro

Minister of Environment of Panama

Alicia Bárcena Ibarra

Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico

Juan Carlos Navarro

Minister of Environment of Panama

12:15 - 12:25

Remarks by Joseph Oughourlian - Grupo Prisa

Speaker:

Joseph Oughourlian

President of the PRISA Group

Joseph Oughourlian

President of the PRISA Group

Joseph Oughourlian is the founder of Amber Capital, a firm he established in New York in November 2005. Oughourlian began his career at Société Générale in Paris in 1994 and moved to New York in 1996. In 1997, he started managing Société Générale’s proprietary investments in New York, which led to the creation of Amber Fund in October 2001 with initial capital from the bank. Oughourlian graduated from HEC Business School and Sciences-Po in Paris, and he holds a postgraduate degree in Economics from the Sorbonne in Paris. He serves on the board of directors of several companies. He was appointed to the board of PRISA in December 2015 and became Vice Chairman of the Board in April 2019. In February 2021, he was named President.

12:30 - 13:00

Holographic presentation by Philippe Aghion – 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics

Speaker:

Philippe Aghion

2025 Nobel Prize in Economics

Philippe Aghion

2025 Nobel Prize in Economics

14:00 - 14:30

Multilateralism and a World in Transition

In a context marked by geopolitical reconfiguration, the reshoring of value chains, the energy transition, and growing tensions over the international order, Latin America and the Caribbean face a pending agenda to strengthen their voice, integration, and development model. This dialogue will examine the role of multilateralism in the region, the opportunities and limits of North–South relations, and the institutional and political adjustments needed for Latin American and Caribbean countries to translate this context into greater democracy, investment, social cohesion, and sustainability. Shared priorities and paths for cooperation will be identified to enable the region to play a stronger role in shaping the global agenda.

Speakers:

Albert Ramdin

Secretary General of the OAS

Andrés Allamand

Ibero-American Secretary General - SEGIB

Madrid, España

Susan Segal

President and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas

Albert Ramdin

Secretary General of the OAS

Tras su segundo mandato en la Organización de los Estados Americanos en 2015, el embajador Albert Ramchand Ramdin volvió a contribuir al desarrollo de su país natal, la República de Surinam. En este sentido, asesoró al entonces nuevo ministro de Asuntos Exteriores en multitud de asuntos de política estratégica, posteriormente se incorporó al sector privado en una empresa minera con sede en EE.UU. que opera a escala internacional y ha ejercido hasta la fecha como ministro de Asuntos Exteriores. Entre sus muchos logros, el Embajador Ramdin promovió el primer diálogo oficial del sector privado con el Consejo Permanente de la OEA. Cuenta con más de 25 años de experiencia en negociación internacional, diplomacia multilateral, ayuda al desarrollo, desarrollo y ejecución de políticas públicas, comercio estratégico y facilitación de negocios, gestión de proyectos, recaudación de fondos y conocimientos clave en competitividad. Ha trabajado en la reforma y reestructuración institucional a nivel gubernamental, no gubernamental y en el sector privado para lograr soluciones y resultados tangibles. Posee una amplia red de contactos con los niveles más altos y relevantes del gobierno, el sector privado, la sociedad civil y las instituciones de las Américas. Ha participado en varias actividades no estatales, desde contribuciones a la Iniciativa para la Transparencia de las Industrias Extractivas, presidente del Grupo de Minería en la organización Trade and Business, así como apoyo al partido político VHP, el Partido Reformista Progresista.  

Andrés Allamand

Ibero-American Secretary General - SEGIB

Madrid, España

A lawyer by profession, he studied law at the University of Chile's Law School, graduating with highest honors. He signed the “National Agreement for the Transition to Full Democracy,” a pivotal document during Chile’s democratic transition in the 1990s. He was later elected as a member of parliament for one term and twice as a senator of the Republic of Chile. During his parliamentary career, he served on the Education, Constitution, Legislation and Justice, Labor, and Social Security committees, as well as addressing matters related to international relations and regionalization processes. He worked as a consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, DC, focusing on democratic governance, strengthening Congresses, and empowering civil society. In academia, he served as Dean of the School of Government at the Adolfo Ibáñez University, where he worked on topics such as leadership, organizational reengineering, connections between the political and business worlds, and the growing divide between citizens and public institutions. He also served as Chile's Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs. He is the author or contributor to more than 10 books and numerous publications, including “Politics Matters: Democracy and Development in Latin America” published by the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. On February 8, 2022, he was appointed Secretary General of the Ibero-American General Secretariat.

Susan Segal

President and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas

She was appointed President and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas in August 2003, after working in the private sector with Latin America and other emerging markets for over 30 years. As a passionate advocate for Latin America, she joined the organizations to implement a new strategic plan to renew and restore the Society and Council to their historic position. Before her current role, she was a founding partner of her own investment and advisory group, primarily focused on Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic sector. Previously, Segal was a partner and head of the Latin American Group at JP Morgan Partners/Chase Capital Partners (CCP), where she invested in various sectors and countries, pioneering early-stage venture capital investments in Latin America. She has always been and remains an enthusiastic mentor and advocate for entrepreneurs, particularly in Latin America. Prior to joining CCP, Segal served as a senior executive director focusing on investment banking in emerging markets and capital markets at MHT/Chemical/Chase Banks. Segal played an active role during the Latin American debt crisis of the 1980s and early 1990s, serving on numerous Advisory Committees and acting as chair of the Advisory Committees for Chile and the Philippines. Segal is a board member of Mercado Libre, Vista Oil & Gas, and Robinhood, as well as an honorary director at Scotiabank. She also serves on the boards of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, the Tinker Foundation, the Bretton Woods Committee, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In 1999, she received the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins, Grand Officer Grade, in Chile. In 2009, Colombian President Álvaro Uribe honored her with the Order of San Carlos. In 2012, Mexican President Felipe Calderón awarded her the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle. In 2013, the Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce recognized her as Honorary Chilean of the Year. In 2018, she received the Order of Merit for Distinguished Service of Peru, Grand Officer rank, from President Martín Vizcarra. In 2022, she was recognized by Colombian President Iván Duque with the Order of Boyacá, Grand Cross category. Most recently, in September 2023, she was honored by the government of Ecuador with the National Order of Honorato Vásquez, Commander grade.

14:35 - 15:05

“A Century of Plenty” – McKinsey Report

Speakers:

Andrés Cadena

McKinsey & Company

Marc Canal

Associate Partner in Spain and Senior Fellow of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI)

Andrés Cadena

McKinsey & Company

Marc Canal

Associate Partner in Spain and Senior Fellow of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI)

17:35 - 18:15

The Era of Global Fragmentation: Will LAC Find Its Voice?

This panel will examine how Latin America and the Caribbean can build a clearer and more effective position in an international order marked by geopolitical fragmentation, rivalry among major powers, and the weakening of multilateralism. The discussion will explore what it means to “have a voice” in practice: defining shared interests, prioritizing agendas where the region can exert influence, and acting coherently in key forums. Pathways to advance regional objectives in trade and investment, climate action, security, and reform of multilateral institutions will be assessed, along with the balance between strategic autonomy and cooperation with different partners. The panel will also consider whether LAC can play a bridging role in a polarized world and what kind of regional integration and coordination—more flexible and results-oriented—would help amplify its global influence and negotiating power.

Speakers:

Susana Sumelzo

Secretary of State for Ibero-America, the Caribbean, and the Spanish Language Worldwide

Fernando Hugo Aramayo

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez

Foreign Minister of Panama

Carlos Díaz-Rosillo

Director and Founder of the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom

Susana Sumelzo

Secretary of State for Ibero-America, the Caribbean, and the Spanish Language Worldwide

Fernando Hugo Aramayo

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez

Foreign Minister of Panama

Carlos Díaz-Rosillo

Director and Founder of the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom

18:20 - 18:50

Transforming Growth: How AI and the Digital Economy Are Redefining Competitiveness – Michio Kaku

This keynote address will examine the impact of artificial intelligence and the digital economy on productivity, employment, and economic competitiveness. Drawing on empirical evidence from cutting-edge research, it will explore how AI is reshaping entire sectors of the economy, which skills and capabilities will be critical for the future of work, and how Latin America can avoid falling behind in this technological revolution. The presentation will offer insights into public policy, investment in human capital, and business strategies needed for the region to harness the opportunities of the digital economy while managing its disruptions.

Speaker:

Michio Kaku

Theoretical physicist, futurist, and author of the best-selling book QUANTUM SUPREMACY

Michio Kaku

Theoretical physicist, futurist, and author of the best-selling book QUANTUM SUPREMACY

Co-creador de la teoría de campos de cuerdas y líder global en física:  

• Físico teórico, autor de bestsellers, reconocido futurista y divulgador científico
• Como co-creador de la Teoría de Campos de Cuerdas, el Dr. Kaku continúa la búsqueda de Einstein por unificar las cuatro fuerzas fundamentales de la naturaleza en una gran teoría unificada del todo.
• Formado en Harvard, tiene un doctorado de Berkeley (Universidad de California) y roles senior en Princeton y CUNY.
• Autor de libros académicos y más de 70 artículos publicados en física teórica.

  El Dr. Michio Kaku es co-creador de la teoría de campos de cuerdas, una rama de la teoría de cuerdas. Se graduó (summa cum laude) de la Universidad de Harvard en 1968, donde ocupó el primer lugar en su clase de física. Luego ingresó al Laboratorio de Radiación de Berkeley en la Universidad de California, Berkeley, y obtuvo un Ph.D. en 1972. En 1973, fue profesor en la Universidad de Princeton.   Michio continúa la búsqueda de Einstein por una “Teoría del Todo”, donde investiga la unión las cuatro fuerzas fundamentales del universo: la fuerza fuerte, la fuerza débil, la gravedad y el electromagnetismo.   Es autor de varios libros académicos y ha publicado más de 70 artículos en revistas de física, en temas como teoría de supercuerdas, supergravedad, supersimetría y física hadrónica. Ocupa la Cátedra Henry Semat y el Profesorado de Física Teórica en el City College of New York (CUNY), donde ha enseñado por más de 25 años. También ha sido profesor visitante en Princeton, así como en la Universidad de Nueva York (NYU).   Kaku ha protagonizado numerosos programas de ciencia para televisión en canales como Discovery, Science Channel, BBC, ABC y History Channel. Además de sus múltiples libros bestseller, también ha sido columnista destacado en importantes publicaciones de divulgación científica como Popular Mechanics, Discover, COSMOS, WIRED, New Scientist, Newsweek, entre muchas otras.    

14:00 - 14:40

Panama: Investment Platform for the Americas

14:45 - 15:25

Philanthropy for Development

This panel will bring together leading entrepreneurs and architects of the philanthropic ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean to demonstrate, through case studies and metrics, how strategic philanthropy—both corporate and family-based—can catalyze development in education, health, productivity, and social innovation, and how to scale its impact through public-private partnerships, impact investing, and blended finance mechanisms.

Commercial banking as an engine of development in Latin America and the Caribbean

This panel analyzes how commercial banking can consolidate its position as a key enabler of economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The conversation will focus on what is needed to deepen productive and long-term financing: clear rules, more sophisticated risk management, greater competition, macro stability, and better institutional quality. It will also explore how to coordinate private banking with development banking and the public sector to expand digitization, reduce access gaps, and scale up investments in housing, infrastructure, and productive transition.

16:20 - 17:00

Inclusion of the private sector in transportation projects

Latin America faces an investment gap of hundreds of billions of dollars in transportation infrastructure. Innovative public-private partnership (PPP) models in transportation projects will be discussed, from roads and ports to subways and urban mobility systems. Successful cases, lessons on contract design, risk mitigation, structured financing, and regulatory frameworks that attract private capital while maintaining the public interest will be brought to the table. Panelists will discuss how to structure bankable projects, the role of development finance institutions, and how to ensure transparency and social benefits in long-term concessions.

17:05 - 17:45

Clean Energy and Energy Transition

The global energy transition is a climate imperative and an unprecedented economic opportunity for Latin America. With abundant energy resources and critical reserves of lithium, copper, and other minerals essential for clean technologies, the region is positioned to be a key player in the global green economy. This panel brings together global energy and climate experts to discuss decarbonization strategies, financing the energy transition, developing critical mineral value chains, and how Latin America can industrialize around clean energy rather than just exporting raw materials. Challenges related to infrastructure, regulation, financing, and regional energy integration will be addressed.

17:50 - 18:30

The strategic minerals agenda in LAC

This panel will bring together key representatives from the main strategic mineral-producing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss how to transform the potential of resources such as lithium, copper, nickel, and rare earths into sustainable development, added value, and social inclusion. The conversation will address the challenges of designing stable regulatory frameworks, attracting long-term investment, promoting local production chains, and developing technological and industrial capacities in the region, while ensuring high socio-environmental and community relations standards. Based on concrete experiences, the discussion will focus on what should be the shared agenda for LAC in the face of the global energy transition, geopolitical competition for critical minerals, and the need for the region to move beyond being merely a supplier of raw materials to become a relevant player in the value chains of the green economy.

14:00 - 14:40

Blue Economy: leading ocean action from LAC

Latin America and the Caribbean, home to more than 25% of the world's marine biodiversity, have unique potential to lead the sustainable blue economy. This panel will bring together governments, multilateral organizations, and private sector actors to present initiatives that integrate ocean conservation, technological innovation, and inclusive economic development, addressing challenges such as the protection of corals and mangroves, sargassum management, conservation beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), the decarbonization of maritime transport, and the transition to sustainable ports. The dialogue will highlight how nature-based solutions and international cooperation can turn the ocean into an engine of climate resilience, green jobs, and regional competitiveness, to outline a Latin American blue action agenda with commitments to financing, innovation, and coordinated public policies.

14:45 - 15:25

The digital leap in LAC: innovation, productivity, cybersecurity, and new investment opportunities

Digital transformation represents a unique opportunity for Latin America to accelerate its development and close productivity gaps. The panel will explore how the region is leveraging digital technologies in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, agtech, healthtech, and digital services. Entrepreneurship ecosystems, digitization policies, digital infrastructure, modern regulatory frameworks, and investment opportunities in the Latin American digital economy will be discussed. Panelists will analyze how digitization can boost business productivity, create quality jobs, and position Latin America as an exporter of digital services and technology solutions.

14:15 - 15:55

The Voice of the Private Sector: priorities for development and competitiveness in LAC

This panel offers a strategic perspective on the role of the private sector in the economic transformation of Latin America and the Caribbean. Faced with a changing global environment (marked by technological advances, energy transition, and new geopolitical dynamics), the region needs to prioritize productivity, innovation, and a stable investment climate. The conversation will address the main obstacles and opportunities for improving competitiveness, boosting formal employment, and taking advantage of trends such as nearshoring. The goal is to outline a clear and practical business agenda that contributes to more dynamic, sustainable, and integrated growth in LAC.

16:20 - 17:00

Structuring risk for growth: National Development Banking and Investment Opportunities in the Region

It is a strategic look at the historic opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Latin America and the Caribbean and African countries as a growing axis of influence on the international stage. The regions of the Global South share challenges and capabilities that can be mutually enhanced. The dialogue will examine how CELAC and Africa can build economic, technological, and political alliances that promote productivity, innovation, food security, climate resilience, and shared value chains. It will also explore mechanisms to deepen South-South cooperation, diversify strategic partners, and project a joint voice in global debates on sustainable development, international governance, and finance for development.

17:00 - 17:45

Security and Development in the Face of the Challenge of Illegal Markets: Evidence, Cooperation, and Regional Action

The panel will focus on analyzing the relationship between security, illegal markets, and development, highlighting how organized crime and illicit economies have become a structural challenge to regional prosperity, affecting investment, institutional trust, social cohesion, and democratic governance. Through an evidence-based approach, the panel will highlight how initiatives such as DAVACrim make it possible to transform information into public policy, strengthen regional cooperation, and promote more comprehensive and sustainable citizen security strategies.

17:50 - 18:30

The Voice of the Private Sector: Priorities for Development and Competitiveness in LAC (2)

This panel offers a strategic perspective on the role of the private sector in the economic transformation of Latin America and the Caribbean. Faced with a changing global environment (marked by technological advances, energy transition, and new geopolitical dynamics), the region needs to prioritize productivity, innovation, and a stable investment climate. The conversation will address the main obstacles and opportunities for improving competitiveness, boosting formal employment, and taking advantage of trends such as nearshoring. The goal is to outline a clear and practical business agenda that contributes to more dynamic, sustainable, and integrated growth in LAC.

09:00 - 09:40

Rail infrastructure as a driver of connectivity and economic growth in the region

Freight and passenger rail projects are fundamental to Latin America's physical integration, but they require massive investments and long maturation periods. This panel brings together government authorities and multilateral financiers to discuss innovative financial structures, development bank participation, green bonds, PPPs in railways, and regional coordination. South American integration projects, bi-oceanic corridors, and mass urban transport systems will be explored. Panelists will discuss challenges of financial viability, institutional design, coordination between countries, and how to mobilize the capital needed to develop the rail network that Latin America needs.

09:45 - 10:25

Open Skies: airport infrastructure and connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean

15:15 - 15:55

The Voice of the Private Sector: priorities for development and competitiveness in LAC (3)

This is a strategic look at the role of the private sector in the economic transformation of Latin America and the Caribbean. Faced with a changing global environment (marked by technological advances, energy transition, and new geopolitical dynamics), the region needs to prioritize productivity, innovation, and a stable investment climate. The conversation will address the main obstacles and opportunities for improving competitiveness, boosting formal employment, and taking advantage of trends such as nearshoring. The goal is to establish a clear and practical business agenda that contributes to more dynamic, sustainable, and integrated growth in LAC.

16:00 - 16:40

Returns that transform: the impact investing revolution

Impact investing is transforming the global financial landscape, demonstrating that it is possible to generate attractive financial returns while creating measurable positive social and environmental impacts. This panel brings together pioneers of impact investing in Latin America to explore how this ecosystem is evolving, which sectors offer the best opportunities (financial inclusion, health, education, sustainable agriculture, clean energy), how impact is measured and verified, and what regulatory frameworks and investment vehicles are emerging. Success stories, scaling challenges, mobilization of institutional capital toward impact investing, and the future of purpose-driven finance in the region will be presented.

16:45 - 17:25

Agriculture and Food for Sustainable Transformation in LAC

This panel explores how Latin America and the Caribbean can mobilize and scale up the financing needed to transform their agri-food systems toward more sustainable, resilient, and regenerative models. Based on specific experiences in the region, the panel will discuss how to combine public, private, and international cooperation investments to drive productive, technological, and institutional innovations that increase productivity without compromising natural resources. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring food and economic security for the most vulnerable populations by promoting inclusive value chains, climate-smart agriculture, and better policy frameworks and incentives.

09:00 - 09:40

From energy to innovation: the LAC–Middle West agenda for the next decade

This panel will analyze how Latin America and the Caribbean can accelerate the mobilization of investment for development in a global environment that rewards speed, scale, and certainty. The conversation will focus on the critical conditions for attracting long-term productive capital: stability and clear rules, robust and bankable project portfolios, more effective PPP schemes, deeper capital markets, and risk management aligned with sustainability criteria. With the perspective of public and private actors, the panel will seek to establish a practical agenda for converting strategic opportunities into real investment, employment, and productivity.

09:45 - 10:25

LAC–Asia: opportunities for a new generation strategic agenda

In an increasingly multipolar world, Latin America has the opportunity to diversify its economic and geopolitical relationships beyond its traditional partners. This panel will explore the prospects for economic, trade, technological, and investment cooperation between Latin America and the dynamic regions of Asia and the Middle East. Panelists will analyze the complementarities between these regions, opportunities in trade, infrastructure, energy, and technology, as well as cultural, logistical, and regulatory challenges.

15:15 - 15:55

Cities, digitization, and innovation

This panel brings together mayors from Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss how digital transformation translates into concrete changes in everyday life and greater urban competitiveness. It will analyze how cities are using data and technologies to integrate interoperable public services, improve mobility, strengthen citizen security, modernize tax collection and land registration, promote environmental management, and leverage public procurement of innovation. The dialogue will focus on local political leadership, digital governance models, partnerships with the private sector, and remaining barriers, with the aim of showing what makes a digital city also a more inclusive, sustainable, and attractive city for investment.

16:00 - 16:40

Water and the future: the urgent agenda for water security in Latin America and the Caribbean

A high-level dialogue to put water at the center of development: how Latin America and the Caribbean are ensuring water security in the face of droughts, floods, and watershed degradation, while expanding universal access to water and sanitation, decarbonizing their systems, protecting ecosystems, and closing urban-rural gaps. The conversation will focus on three areas: i) governance and regulatory frameworks that integrate watershed management, human rights to water, and cross-border coordination; ii) investment and finance (tariffs, PPPs, blended finance) for gray infrastructure and nature-based solutions; iii) innovation and data.

16:45 - 17:25

Launch of the report Unlocking Growth in a Changing World for Latin America and the Caribbean

This panel will present the main findings of a report that argues that Latin America and the Caribbean remain trapped in a pattern of incomplete development, marked by historically low GDP per capita growth, large productivity gaps with advanced economies, and deep territorial inequalities. In a global context of green, digital, and demographic transitions, and growing geopolitical and protectionist uncertainty, the region faces the challenge of promoting a comprehensive growth agenda that combines greater accumulation of physical and human capital with strong productivity gains. The discussion will focus on three pillars: reducing informality, increasing innovation, and improving the level and sophistication of international integration, taking advantage of natural wealth and the role of services as drivers of productive diversification and quality employment. The panel will also examine the capacities of national and subnational governments to design, finance, and implement this agenda in an environment of fiscal constraints, with the aim of removing barriers to growth and advancing toward truly comprehensive development in the region.

14:00 - 14:40

Bolivia: agenda for growth, investment, and sustainable development

Bolivia showcases its potential for sustained and inclusive growth, strategically leveraging its natural resources, its Andean-Amazonian location, and its expanding domestic market. The conversation will address the challenges and opportunities for boosting public and private investment, diversifying the productive matrix beyond hydrocarbons, promoting sectors such as agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism, and the lithium economy, and strengthening infrastructure and logistical integration with the region. With the participation of leaders from the public and private sectors and multilateral organizations, the discussion will focus on the reforms, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships needed for Bolivia to consolidate a development model that combines macroeconomic stability, quality job creation, and environmental sustainability.

14:45 - 15:25

The economic and social legacy of sport: Latin America ahead of the 2026 World Cup

The panel aims to show how mega sporting events can become drivers of social, economic, and cultural transformation for people with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Beyond competition, the Parapan American Games are catalysts that mobilize profound changes: they promote more accessible cities, strengthen institutional capacities, and generate new attitudes among citizens. CAF positions itself as a strategic ally in the design and financing of these inclusive legacies, promoting partnerships between governments, development banks, companies, and sports stakeholders to make infrastructure, services, and communities more accessible and sustainable. The experience of Santiago 2023 paves the way for Lima 2027 and Asunción 2031, demonstrating how multisectoral collaboration can ensure that the legacy transcends the event and brings about lasting change in the lives of people with disabilities and the local economy.

15:30 - 16:10

Economic Development Opportunities for the Caribbean

This panel will explore the potential of the Caribbean to discover a geography of opportunities where innovation and sustainability can become concrete drivers of growth. This panel will present stories of projects that are already transforming production chains—from high-value tourism and sustainable aquaculture to renewable energy and smart port logistics—and will show how technology, creative financing, and public-private partnerships reduce risks and open up regional and global markets.

16:20 - 17:00

Waste Management, Recycling, Circular Design, New Business Models

This panel explores waste management as a strategic lever for productive transformation and economic value creation, focusing on how recycling, eco-design, and circular design enable material cycles to be closed and environmental costs to be reduced. Specific cases of integration between producers, waste managers, and secondary markets will be analyzed to show practical routes for recovery, measure impacts, and dismantle operational and regulatory barriers that prevent the scaling up of circular solutions. The dialogue will also address the emergence of new business models (creation of services, subscription economy, reuse platforms, and secondary raw material markets) and what conditions they require to be viable: financing, logistical innovation, regulatory incentives, and cultural change among consumers.

17:05 - 17:45

Financial ecosystem for gender equality

This session addresses the importance of inclusive, gender-focused financial ecosystems as drivers of women's well-being and sustainable growth for countries. Building bridges between governments, regulators, and the financial sector is key to designing and scaling financial inclusion laws, equality seals for financial institutions, gender bonds, credit lines for women-led and/or women-owned SMEs, and other transformative instruments. It shows that equal opportunities for women are not only a matter of social justice, but also a central strategy for economic development and reducing inequalities.

17:50 - 18:30

Social Housing as an Engine for Development: Coordination between the Public, Private, and Financial Sectors

The housing deficit in Latin America exceeds 50 million homes, mainly affecting vulnerable populations. This panel will explore how social housing can be a catalyst for comprehensive development, generating employment, strengthening communities, improving health and education, and boosting local economies. Innovative financing models (subsidies, microfinance, social mortgages), public-private partnership mechanisms, sustainable urban design, efficient construction technologies, and neighborhood improvement programs will be discussed. Panelists will share successful experiences from different countries and analyze how to scale housing solutions that are financially viable, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable.

09:00 - 09:40

Boosting Tourism Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean

09:45 - 10:25

Report Imagining the Future of Democracy in LAC: From Apprehension to Momentum for Building Strong and Inclusive Democracies

This space will present the report Democracies Under Pressure: Reimagining the Future of Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean, which revisits the link between democracy and human development in a context of citizen mistrust, social conflicts, and rapid change. It identifies the main points of pressure that are currently straining democracies—institutional, economic, social, and cultural—and explores what is really at stake in the short and medium term. It will focus on the study's key findings and messages, highlighting ways to strengthen social resilience and transform pressure into a force for democratization, with the ultimate goal of contributing to stronger, more inclusive democracies capable of expanding human development in the region.

15:15 - 15:55

Special Economic Zones and productive development: regional experiences

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been successful industrial policy instruments in Asia, but Latin America has had mixed results. This panel explores how to design and implement effective SEZs that attract investment, generate quality employment, promote technology transfer, and integrate with local economies. It analyzes experiences from different Latin American countries and Spain, discussing regulatory frameworks, tax incentives, infrastructure, coordination with productive clusters, sustainability, and governance. Panelists will share lessons learned about what works and what does not in SEZs, and how they can be tools for productive diversification and regional development.

16:00 - 16:40

Networks without borders: the critical path for Latin American electrical interconnection

This is an analysis of the main technical, regulatory, and financial challenges of electrical interconnection in Latin America and the Caribbean, reviewing projects that have been successfully implemented and those that have been delayed or failed to materialize. The discussion will address regulatory harmonization, cross-border tariffs and tolls, bankability and country risk, socio-environmental consultation, transmission capacity, cybersecurity, integration of renewables, and technologies such as HVDC and storage. Based on these experiences, the panel promotes a regional roadmap for 2026–2030 to accelerate energy integration and strengthen electricity security and the energy transition in LAC.

16:45 - 17:25

Presentation Latin American Economic Outlook - LEO