Ilan Goldfajn, President of the IDB, shares his views on challenges and opportunities for growth in Latin America and the Caribbean

Ilan Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, shared his views on the main challenges and opportunities for growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, at an event hosted by IE University in Madrid.

In his opening remarks, Manuel Muñiz, Provost of IE University and Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, emphasized that "in a world increasingly marked by economic, political, and social fractures, it is essential to understand the crucial role of Latin America and the Caribbean. In this regard, Europe, and particularly Spain, can act as a bridge of dialogue and cooperation with Latin America, promoting common goals and fostering positive change".

"In a world increasingly marked by economic, political, and social fractures, it is essential to understand the crucial role of Latin America and the Caribbean".
Manuel Muñiz, Provost IE University, Dean IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs

The IDB President addressed a group of students and professors, outlining the main challenges faced in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), including limited resources, social demands, economic growth, and climate change.

In conversation with Germán Ríos, Director of the Latin American Observatory at IE University, and Manuela Blanco, President of the Brazil Club and IE University student, Golfdain emphasized the key role of youth in the search for global solutions, and highlighted the major opportunities for the region:

1. Nature and Biodiversity, with the Amazon absorbing a quarter of the CO2 absorbed by the earth worldwide.

2. Clean Energy, providing essential resources like lithium and copper for the energy transition.

3. Food Security, with LAC being the world's main food exporter, producing enough to feed 1.3 billion people.

"We are in a potential reflection point...we need to change the priorities, we need to focus on results and on the impact".
Ilan Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group

Ilan Goldfajn explained that the IDB’s current focus is on tangible and measurable development impacts, with goals including lifting people out of poverty, improving access to water and sanitation, education, health, and reducing CO2 emissions. In this sense, it is essential to understand that the evolution of Multilateral Development Banks aims to strengthen collaboration and improve system-wide efforts to deliver greater impact.

European IDB for the Americas

This event at IE University officially launched the’ ‘European IDB for the Americas’, a new program to foster business opportunities and stronger economic ties between LAC and global partners, with a focus on trade and investment, financing, and public procurement. This partnership with the IDB includes the Amazonia Forever program for sustainable development in the Amazon region, the Spain Water Fund, and collaboration with European companies to mobilize additional resources to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.