Focus: Presentation of key survey findings and setting the strategic tone for evidence-based insights 

Master of Ceremonies: 

H.E. Ana Irene Delgado, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Panama to the OAS 

Participants:   
Aurelio Barría Pino, President, Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama 

H.E. Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama

 H.E. Albert Ramdin, Secretary General, Organization of American States  

Presentation of Letters of Commitment from the Private Sector to Advance the Prosperity Agenda in the Americas: 

Orlando Dovat, Vice President of the Latin America Business Council (CEAL) International, CEAL Uruguay and President of Zonamerica Uruguay

Puru P. Trivedi, Senior Vice President, Meridian International Center

Joe “José Luis” Chi, President, Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America (CAMACOL) and Hemispheric Congress of Chambers of the Americas

 Latin America and the Caribbean have strategic energy and mineral resources worldwide. Against a backdrop of growing global competition to ensure the resilience of supply chains and accelerate the energy transition, the region faces a historic opportunity to strengthen its competitiveness, attract investment and move towards higher value-added value chains. How can the region move beyond traditional extractive models? What conditions are necessary to attract strategic investments and strengthen regional value chains? How can the countries of the Americas strengthen their energy security in an increasingly fragmented global environment? What role can public-private partnerships play in accelerating the development of energy infrastructure and mobilizing investments?  

Panelists will examine public-private partnerships and ESG standards, and highlight how increasing tensions and disruptions in the global environment are increasing the strategic importance of the region's resources. 

Focus: Unlocking barriers to investments and strengthening energy security   

Introduction: 

The Hon. Leandro Rizzuto, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the OAS 

Participants: 

The Hon. Wilfred Nicholas Morris, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Amb. Craig A. Kelly, Senior Director - International Government Relations, ExxonMobil 
Miguel Bolinaga, President, AES Panama 

Capt. Gerald Gouveia Jr., Chairman, Private Sector Commission of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Jorge Pablo Brito, Chairman of the Board, Genneia S.A.

Moderator: 

H.E. Ana Irene Delgado, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Panama to the Organization of American States

Q&A: 5–10 minutes  

AI and digital transformation are redefining economic competitiveness, productivity, and innovation globally. In a context marked by technological acceleration, the growing importance of data as a strategic asset and the competition to lead the digital economy, Latin America and the Caribbean face a decisive opportunity to strengthen its technological capabilities, promote innovation and position itself as a relevant player in global digital governance. How can countries in the region strengthen their digital sovereignty and reduce strategic dependencies? What infrastructure, funding, and talent does the region need to compete in the AI economy? How can artificial intelligence boost productivity, employment, and innovation in the Americas? How can countries in the region design regulatory frameworks that promote innovation in AI, strengthen competitiveness, and prepare the jobs of the future for the changes that automation and digital platforms will bring?

Discussions will highlight how public-private collaboration can strengthen digital sovereignty, boost local capacity, and support more inclusive participation in the global digital economy.  

Focus: Harnessing AI and digital innovation to boost growth, jobs and competitiveness  

Participants:  
Gabriel Dutra, Senior Director - Latin America, Qualcomm 
Carl Meacham, Head of Sovereign AI, Hydra Host 
Natalia Iregui, Director - Public Policy LATAM, Amazon Web Services  

Antonia Moreno García, Director of Public Affairs, National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA), Republic of Chile

Moderator: 

Jorge Lukowski, Global Director, EPAM NEORIS

Q&A: 5–10 minutes

 The increasing reconfiguration of global supply chains is creating new opportunities to strengthen regional economic integration and attract strategic investment to the Americas. In a context of increasing competition for the relocation of investments and the diversification of suppliers, the region has the opportunity to consolidate itself as a more integrated, connected and competitive platform for trade and investment. What conditions are necessary for the Americas to consolidate as a strategic destination for investment, manufacturing, and global supply chains? What policy, logistics and trade facilitation reforms are priorities to attract investment and strengthen regional integration? How can public-private partnerships accelerate strategic infrastructure development and strengthen regional value chains? What role can digitalisation and modernisation of business processes play in improving competitiveness and regional connectivity? How can countries in the Americas take advantage of the opportunities of nearshoring and friendshoring to boost economic growth and job creation?

Focus: Address key barriers to trade and logistics, identify opportunities to strengthen regional value chains, and promote public-private actions to facilitate trade and investment

Introduction:

José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of ECLAC

Participants: 
H.E. Julio Molto, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Panama   
Bettina Bulgheroni, President, Inter-American Council on Trade and Production (CICyP)    

Hernán Bazán, Senior Director - Supply Chain, PepsiCo 

Antonio Domínguez, President - Latin America and the Caribbean, Maersk
María Luisa Navarro, Senior Director - Government Relations, Copa Airlines  

Orlando Dovat, President of Zonamerica Uruguay

Moderator:

José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of ECLAC

Q&A: 5–10 minutes

Conversation on the strategic role of the Panama Canal as the axis of hemispheric trade and a key platform to strengthen connectivity, competitiveness and regional economic integration in a changing global environment.  

Participant: 

Jose Ramón Icaza Clément, Minister for Canal Affairs of Panama and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Panama Canal Authority 

Moderator: 

Puru P. Trivedi, Senior Vice President, Meridian International Center  

 - Participant Reflections/ Synthesis of Key Points from the Panels 
- Identification of priority actions from the private sector in collaboration with governments and regional agencies and banks  
- Financing mechanisms to promote a regional prosperity agenda: CAF, IDB, CABEI 

Participants: 

Felipe Rincón, Vice President - Government Relations, Mastercard

Joe Durso, Vice President - National & Public Affairs, Pernod Ricard USA 

J. Randall Waterfield, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, US Strategic Metals

Mauricio Reves, Director of Financial Development, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF)

Moderator:

Jim Golsen, Vice President, Center for Corporate Diplomacy, Meridian International Center  

Amb. Isabelle Valois, Executive Secretary for Integral Development, OAS