On 29 and 30 January, Paulo Neves, president of the Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL), took part in the first International Economic Forum of Latin America and the Caribbean, which took place in Panama and brought together major global leaders to debate climate change, the food crisis, energy transition and the digital revolution.

As well as attending the event, Paulo Neves took part in a round table entitled ‘Geopolitics and the role of Latin America and the Caribbean in a changing world’, where he discussed the region’s relevance on the global stage and the opportunities for international cooperation.

During his trip, he also held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, reinforcing IPDAL’s commitment to strengthening relations between Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.

Speakers at the forum included the President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino; the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña; the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; as well as figures such as Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF; Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Italy; Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark; Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of UNCTAD; and Joseph Oughourlian, President of the PRISA Group.

IPDAL would like to thank CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and the Embassy of Panama in Portugal for their support and collaboration in this important initiative.