FONPLATA participated in the International Integration Forum “Latin America and the Caribbean: From Vision to Action,” organized by CAF on May 19–20 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The event convened leaders from the region’s political, financial, business, academic, and multilateral sectors to discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a more effective, pragmatic, and results-oriented regional integration agenda.

FONPLATA's Executive President Luciana Botafogo took part in the panel “More Integration, More Financing: Development Banks and Regional Integration,” alongside representatives from the World Bank, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and the Caribbean Development Bank.

In her remarks, Botafogo stressed that the region does not lack diagnoses or ideas; the real challenge lies in turning proposals into projects that are feasible, bankable, and capable of generating regional impact. She emphasized that integration becomes sustainable when it delivers concrete solutions for people and territories —through initiatives that improve connectivity, reduce logistics costs, strengthen climate resilience, and expand opportunities for shared development. In this context, she underscored the importance of advancing integration based on converging interests.

Botafogo also highlighted the strategic role of development banks in bridging the gap between vision and implementation. In a global environment marked by shifting value chains and geopolitical tensions, she noted that this role is essential to strengthening the international integration and economic and climate resilience of Latin America and the Caribbean.

She further emphasized the need to deepen coordination among development finance institutions, noting that the complementary roles of organizations such as CAF and FONPLATA are key for advancing an effective regional agenda. She pointed to CAF’s potential as a coordinator of a portfolio of strategic projects and a mobilizer of financing.

Regarding FONPLATA’s role, Botafogo noted that the Bank brings geographical proximity, operational agility, and extensive experience in complementary infrastructure and physical and productive integration projects in border areas and mid-sized cities—where regional integration often becomes tangible for local communities.

In closing, the Executive President commended CAF for fostering this dialogue and reiterated the urgency of adopting an action-oriented approach.

The Forum brought together leaders from the region and the world to inform the development of CAF’s 2026–2031 Strategic Plan and to strengthen the debate on the future of regional integration.

05/21/2026