Latin America and the Caribbean are trapped in a cycle of low economic growth, with GDP per capita increasing by only 0.6% over the past decade. Factors such as low investment in infrastructure (2.8% of GDP), labor informality affecting 50% of the workforce, and an economy focused on low-value-added sectors hinder productivity and competitiveness. This panel will explore how public policies, private investment, and innovation can drive inclusive growth by strengthening institutions, transparency, and governance.

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Latin America and the Caribbean face a structural challenge: labor productivity is less than half that of advanced economies, and investment in R&D stands at only 0.8% of GDP, far below the global average of 2.4%. This gap limits the ability of businesses to innovate and adapt, weakening resilience to global crises. This panel will explore how technological innovation, digitalization, and sustainable models can boost productivity, integrate SMEs, and promote public-private partnerships to build a competitive and sustainable economy.

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With 60% of its energy mix derived from renewables, Latin America and the Caribbean far exceed the global average of 29% and possess vast potential in solar, wind, geothermal, and green hydrogen energy. However, uneven development and the lack of regulatory frameworks limit its expansion, missing opportunities to diversify economies and create jobs. This panel will explore how governments, the private sector, and multilateral organizations can transform this energy wealth into a driver of growth and sustainability.

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Latin America and the Caribbean, facing challenges like extreme poverty and persistent inequality, attract only 4% of global impact investments, according to GIIN. This panel will explore how family offices, strategic philanthropy, and private investors can bridge development gaps by channeling capital into projects that deliver financial returns alongside social and environmental benefits. Successful cases and scalable strategies will be discussed to catalyze meaningful change in the region.

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Latin America and the Caribbean face an annual financing gap of USD 160 billion to achieve the SDGs, yet in 2022, the region mobilized only USD 21.2 billion in private financing. This highlights the urgent need to innovate with instruments such as thematic bonds, blended finance, and public-private partnerships. This dialogue will explore how to unlock resources and direct investments toward key sectors like infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable production, emphasizing the essential roles of governments, financial institutions, and the private sector.

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Digitalization is key to reducing inequalities and accelerating development in Latin America and the Caribbean, where only 68% of the population has internet access. The digital divide limits access to essential services like education and healthcare, yet increasing broadband penetration by 10% could boost per capita GDP by 3.2%, according to the IDB. This dialogue will explore how to close these gaps, empower SMEs, ensure digital inclusion, and enhance public service delivery to strengthen regional competitiveness.

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Despite its wealth of natural resources and emerging sectors, Latin America and the Caribbean account for only 6% of global trade, with intraregional trade reaching just 15%, far below other regions like Europe (60%) or Asia (35%). This fragmentation limits competitiveness and access to global value chains. This session will explore ways to strengthen regional integration, diversify exports, and modernize infrastructure to position the region as a leader in the global economy, in an inclusive and sustainable manner.

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