Within the framework of the International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean 2026, organized by CAF, Panama's National Bank led a high-level private roundtable with regional authorities, decision-makers, and international investors, aimed at promoting strategic investment in Panama and the region.
The meeting was headed by the General Manager of Panama's National Bank, Javier Carrizo Esquivel, who highlighted the country's strategic role as a hub for global trade, as well as financial and intellectual capital, backed by a solid economy, institutional stability, and a clear vision for sustainable development.
This dialogue space featured the prominent participation of the Ministry of Investments of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Eksab for International Investments Company, represented by its executives Abdulrahman Bakir and Yazeed AlYahya, respectively.
Also participating were the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, represented by its minister Julio Moltó, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, through the Vice Minister of Finance Fausto Fernández, along with leaders of business guilds and representatives from the banking, legal, and commercial sectors of Panama and the region.
During the meeting, the common interest in strengthening cooperation and exploring investment opportunities aligned with successful models of economic diversification and resilient growth was emphasized. These models are capable of generating shared value and long-term development, exploring opportunities in strategic sectors such as infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, and education, promoting initiatives that drive innovation, sustainability, and progress for the participating countries.
The dialogue allowed Panama to be positioned as a reliable partner for responsible investments focused on strategic sectors and the construction of a competitive, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable economic environment.
The entity stated that with this meeting, Panama's National Bank reaffirms its commitment to acting as a facilitator of strategic alliances that drive the country's growth and contribute to the region's economic development, promoting a modern, open-to-the-world, and future-oriented vision.
It is worth noting that during the development of this international forum, the Bank had active participation through its leaders. Additionally, it participated as an expert in the closed-door roundtable 'Capital for Infrastructure and Closing Gaps – Fund as a Motor for Regional Growth'.
Similarly, the General Manager of Businesses of Banconal, Eric Calderón, participated in a roundtable focused on the importance of support and accompaniment for agricultural producers, reaffirming the undisputed leadership of Panama's National Bank as the main driver of the country's agricultural banking and its commitment to a development model that promotes financial inclusion and sustainability in the sector.
Also present were the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama, through Vice Chancellor Carlos Hoyos, and authorities from Bolivia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Colombia, and Paraguay.
The General Manager, Javier Carrizo Esquivel, was a panelist in the roundtable 'Structuring Risk to Grow: national development banking and investment opportunities in the region', where the challenges and opportunities to strengthen the role of banks as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive investment were addressed.
