The Forum will feature plenary sessions bringing together all participants to address the region's key challenges and opportunities. Led by international experts and leaders, these sessions will focus on global topics such as sustainability, innovation, and economic integration, creating a space to reflect on strategies that drive sustainable and inclusive growth.

The Private Sector as a Driver of Change: Advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean

Can the private sector be the engine that propels Latin America and the Caribbean toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? In a region where the annual investment gap to meet the SDG targets is approximately USD 160 billion, the private sector has the potential to transform this reality through innovation, strategic partnerships, and impactful financing. With 70 million people still living in extreme poverty and only 4% of global impact investments directed toward the region, businesses face both the challenge and the opportunity to align their business models with sustainable development, creating economic and social benefits that are more interconnected than ever before.

This panel will explore how companies can adopt and promote ESG criteria, channel resources into greener projects with a strong focus on inclusion and social equity, and innovate to address the region's most pressing challenges. Business leaders and experts will discuss success stories and concrete strategies to close the investment gap, create jobs, and enhance the sustainability of the business environment.

How can companies turn commitments into actions that benefit both the planet and their communities? What opportunities and challenges does technological innovation and digitalization bring in the shift toward a more sustainable model? How can MSMEs join this effort? How can the private sector address specific regional issues, such as social inequality, lack of access to renewable energy, or informal employment? These and other questions will be part of a dialogue aimed at turning challenges into opportunities to build a more resilient and inclusive region.

How to Foster Growth? Investment, Innovation, Policies, Institutions, and Governance as Keys to a New Growth Path

How can Latin America and the Caribbean break free from the low economic growth trap? Over the past decade, the region’s average GDP per capita growth was just 0.6%, significantly lagging behind other emerging economies. Insufficient investment in infrastructure—amounting to only 2.8% of the region’s GDP compared to the 5% recommended by the World Bank—and labor informality affecting 50% of the workforce, limit the region’s ability to generate formal employment and attract investment. Adding to this is a productive structure heavily concentrated in low-value-added sectors, perpetuating low levels of productivity and competitiveness.

This panel will focus on how public policies, private investment, and technological innovation can serve as catalysts to restore a path of sustained and inclusive growth. It will also delve into identifying and overcoming other critical factors behind the region's stagnation, such as strengthening institutions, improving governance, and adopting inclusive public policies.

Business leaders and experts will discuss strategies to close gaps in investment, innovation, and workforce training while promoting integration into global value chains. They will also explore ways to foster competitive markets, enhance transparency, and build trust in institutions—key elements for attracting investments and driving sustainable development.

Can Latin America shed its reputation as the region of lost opportunities and become a global development driver? Ultimately, do we have concrete answers to foster true sustainable growth that improves the quality of life for its people?

Innovation and Productivity for a Resilient Economy

How can Latin America and the Caribbean make the leap toward a more resilient and competitive economy through innovation? The region faces a structural challenge: its labor productivity is less than half that of advanced economies, according to World Bank data. Furthermore, investment in research and development (R&D) amounts to only 0.8% of the region's GDP, significantly below the global average of 2.4%. This gap hinders the ability of businesses to innovate and adapt to economic and technological changes, weakening their resilience in the face of global crises.

This panel will explore how technological innovation, digitalization, and the transformation of key sectors toward cleaner production and consumption models can boost productivity and strengthen the region's economy.

Experts and business leaders will discuss strategies to foster innovation ecosystems with a regional identity, promote public-private partnerships, and integrate small and medium-sized enterprises into more sophisticated value chains.

How can Latin America and the Caribbean leverage emerging technologies to build an economy that is both competitive and sustainable? How can companies in the region overcome barriers to investing in research and development (R&D) and drive local innovation? How can the region lead a global energy transition while creating new sustainable industries?

Energy Wealth and the Green Transition in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean are poised to lead the global green transition thanks to their abundant energy resources. The region boasts an energy matrix with 60% of its power generated from renewable sources, far surpassing the global average of 29%, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Additionally, it holds vast potential in solar, wind, geothermal, and green hydrogen energy, making it one of the most promising areas to drive a sustainable and competitive energy model. However, uneven development and the lack of robust regulatory frameworks have hindered the expansion of these capabilities, representing a missed opportunity to diversify economies and create high-quality jobs.

This panel will explore how governments, the private sector, and multilateral organizations and banks can collaborate to transform the region's energy wealth into a driver of economic growth and sustainability. Panelists will discuss strategies to attract investment in green infrastructure, develop innovative technologies, and promote regional cooperation in energy integration. How can Latin America and the Caribbean move from being a resource-rich region to becoming a global leader in clean energy and climate resilience? This dialogue aims to outline an action plan to turn the region's energy wealth into shared prosperity.