XVIII Annual CAF Conference

Regional integration, social inclusion, and the need for a more competitive business climate in Latin America emerged as recurring themes at the XVIII Annual CAF Conference. Some 1,200 past and present government officials, lawmakers, diplomats, academics, economists, journalists, policymakers, and other participants gathered in Washington, DC, on September 3 and 4 to discuss the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the Western Hemisphere. Another 1,800 tuned in from around the world and participated in the conversation via social media.

Speakers and panelists at the event, organized by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, the Inter-American Dialogue, and the Organization of American States (OAS), addressed an ambitious range of issues, from elections and energy to economic growth and education. In his welcoming remarks, Inter-American Dialogue president Michael Shifter noted that the annual conference has generated growing levels of interest “and has helped us to understand that the region can only be interpreted within a global context.” He described the conference as an opportunity for in-depth discussion on the direction the region is heading.