- The International Economic Forum – Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 closed with record participation figures: seven heads of state, more than 30 official delegations, more than 400 bilateral meetings, 50 panel discussions and an unprecedented number of face-to-face meetings.
PANAMA, CITY, Panama – On January 28 and 29, Panama City became the epicenter of economic and political debate in Latin America and the Caribbean. More than 6,500 leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, investors and decision-makers from 70 countries participated in the International Economic Forum, organised by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – in partnership with the government of Panama.
This second of the forum featured the participation of José Raúl Mulino, president of Panama; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil; Rodrigo Paz, president of Bolivia; Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia; Daniel Noboa, president of Ecuador; Bernardo Arévalo, president of Guatemala; Andrew Holness, prime minister of Jamaica; and José Antonio Kast, president-elect of Chile.
CAF’s executive president, Sergio Díaz-Granados, highlighted the scope of the event. “This Forum is the most important gathering in the region in terms of mobilisation and alliances. The deliberations of these days will provide inputs to turn ideas into actions that improve people’s lives across the region.”
Díaz-Granados also said the meeting is a demonstration of the evolution of the development institution’s role. “CAF’s role is not only to be a financial institution, but also to build bridges and create spaces for dialogue like this one to strengthen the voice of Latin America and the Caribbean. This was a necessary space in light of global challenges, and today we are consolidating ourselves as a platform that promotes the region worldwide.”
In total, 250 panellists were part of an agenda that addressed key issues such as regional integration, trade, artificial intelligence, energy transition, financing for development, innovation and sustainability, whose panels were viewed by more than 400 thousand people online, and leaders from 12 international organisations were also in attendance.
The exchange sent a clear signal that the region is seeking greater coordination and a stronger voice in redefining the international economic order.
Among the most prominent participants were Nobel Prize laureates in Economics James Robinson and Philippe Aghion, who analysed the drivers of growth, innovation, and institutional strength in development. The Forum also featured theoretical physicist and futurist Michio Kaku, who offered perspectives on the impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on the global economy.
Beyond the panel discussions, the Forum translated into tangible engagement, with more than 400 bilateral meetings held between governments, business leaders, and multilateral organisations. This was complemented by an innovative component, a networking application developed by CAF, which enabled the scheduling of more than 1,100 additional meetings among participants, significantly expanding opportunities for cooperation and investment.
With record attendance numbers and high-level participation from the business, multilateral, political, and technical spheres, this year’s International Economic Forum sends a clear signal that the region is seeking to coordinate, debate, and project itself with greater cohesion in an increasingly challenging global context.
The Forum was supported by the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom, COX, Copa Airlines and Coca-Cola. The panels of the Economic Forum can be seen on CAF’s YouTube channel.
The post CAF’s economic forum: 6,500 leaders from 70 countries largest regional meeting in recent years appeared first on Caribbean News Global.