A. M. 
The International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean 2025, organized by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), Grupo PRISA and World in Progress (WIP), kicked off this wednesday at the Panama City Convention Center. The inauguration was in charge of the Panamanian president, José Raúl Mulino, together with the executive president of CAF, Sergio Díaz Granados, and the president of Grupo PRISA, Joseph Oughourlian.
The agenda of the event, which will last until thursday, brings together political leaders, businessmen and experts to discuss the region’s economic challenges and opportunities. On the opening day, journalist Gabriela Frías interviewed the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, followed by a speech by former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
One of the central themes of the forum is sustainable economic growth, a topic addressed in keynote speeches by UNCTAD Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan and Stanley Motta, Chairman of the Board of Copa Holding. In addition, a panel with representatives from the World Bank, ECLAC and CAF analyzed the economic outlook for the region in 2025.
The tourism and air connectivity sector was also discussed in a session with leaders from Avianca, LATAM and UN Tourism, who highlighted the role of airport infrastructure in regional development. In another space, Olivia White, from the McKinsey Global Institute, emphasized the need to attract more investment to boost growth.
Climate change and energy transition were the protagonists of a panel on clean energy, with experts from Siemens Energy, Zeus Energy and the Organización Latinoamericana de Energía (Olade), who discussed strategies to accelerate the transformation of the sector. Another debate addressed the circular economy and solid waste management, with the participation of mayors from Quito and Bogota.
The forum will conclude with an analysis of the role of Latin America and the Caribbean in current geopolitics, with figures such as Keiko Fujimori, Ana Irene Delgado and Eduardo Verano de la Rosa, who will discuss the region’s challenges in a changing world.
