On 8 October, the Business Networking Meeting took place in Warsaw, Poland, bringing together stakeholders to strengthen economic relations between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on trade, investment and cooperation opportunities between the two regions.

The initiative brought together institutional and economic representatives to discuss the importance of deepening bi-regional relations in an international context marked by geopolitical and economic transformations, as well as the need to diversify strategic partnerships.

One of the key moments of the meeting was the intervention by Nicolás Albertoni, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, who presented the main findings of the study “Untapping the Global Gateway Investment Agenda and the Association Agreements between the European Union – Latin America and the Caribbean”, co-authored with Elizabeth Accioly in collaboration with IPDAL and the EU-LAC Foundation.

The study examines the potential for synergies between the Global Gateway Investment Agenda and existing trade and association agreements between the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean countries. It identifies opportunities to translate existing cooperation instruments into concrete initiatives that promote sustainable and inclusive investment.

Among the main issues addressed were the importance of strengthening the conditions necessary to implement investment projects, encouraging the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises, and enhancing coordination between different trade, financial and institutional instruments. The analysis also explores experiences and opportunities related to Mercosur, Chile, Central America and CARIFORUM.

The presentation provided an opportunity to highlight the role of trade agreements and investment initiatives in bringing the two regions closer together, contributing to the identification of new avenues for collaboration and the strengthening of bi-regional economic relations.

IPDAL’s participation in this meeting forms part of the Institute’s ongoing efforts to promote institutional dialogue, economic diplomacy and cooperation between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean. Through knowledge production and collaboration with international partners, the Institute seeks to help translate shared priorities into concrete opportunities for development and investment.

IPDAL thus reaffirms its commitment to deepening relations between the two regions by promoting initiatives that bring institutions, businesses and decision-makers closer together and contribute to a more dynamic, sustainable and strategic bi-regional partnership.