News

Top economic leaders and decision makers from around the world are descending on Panama this week for the Latin America and Caribbean International Economic Forum 2026, which has been dubbed “Latin America’s answer to Davos.”

The forum, which runs through Jan. 30, is hosted by the Panama government and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. Speakers include eight Presidents, including the leaders of Panama, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile, as well as 30 foreign and economy ministers.

Discussions will focus on a wide range of economic issues facing the region, including trade, productivity, sustainability, and opportunities for economic development. Two winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics will be among the speakers, the Frenchman Philippe Aghion and the British researcher James Robinson

The high level of participants has made the Forum one of the premier events in the region. It positions Panama as a venue for high-level political dialogue and reinforces its image as a stable, serious, and respected country on the international stage, Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez said at an event.

“Hosting this Forum marks a strategic milestone for the country and confirms its capacity to project itself as a relevant actor at a turning point in the world order,” the minister said. “It is a demonstration of international confidence, organizational strength, and a vision for the future,” the foreign minister emphasized at a press conference.”

The event also cements CAF as a major player in Panama’s economic scene, as well as downtown development. The new CAF headquarters is the catalyst for a new “superblock” development in Obarrio, which includes MOVA by B&B Italia, which offers 285 high-end condominiums in a three-building mixed-use complex.