• The first day of the event was held with the intention of creating a concrete financing agenda for regional development, with tangible proposals, replicable projects, and verifiable impact.

May 12, 2025 – The 55^th General Assembly of the Latin American Association of Development Finance Institutions (ALIDE), the leading gathering of development banks in Latin America and the Caribbean, was opened with the participation of Luis Abinader, Constitutional President of the Dominican Republic, and José Manuel Vicente, Minister of Finance.

Under the central theme «From Global Crisis to Comprehensive Security: Development Banking, forging the future of Latin America and the Caribbean,» the Assembly brings together more than 220 representatives of development finance institutions, multilateral organizations, and governments from 29 countries in the region, as well as from extra-regional nations such as Germany, Spain, the United States, France, India, Italy, the Netherlands, and Russia.

The event, which will take place until May 14 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Santo Domingo, will address the challenges and opportunities for ensuring sustainable development with multiple security: economic, energy, food, environmental, digital, and social.

An agenda focused on the future of the region

During his speech, Fernando Durán, General Manager of Banco Agrícola de la República Dominicana (BAGRÍCOLA), pointed out that agricultural credit faces three major limitations: the inherent risk of the activity, price volatility, and unequal competition compared to other sectors.

«This meeting is a great opportunity to share innovative ideas that address global challenges and promote the development of our nations,» Durán emphasized, highlighting the importance of the meeting in the current international situation.

For his part, Juan Cuattromo, Vice President of ALIDE and President of Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration and innovation in development banking, with a view to building financial systems that drive sustainable development in the region.

«This Assembly is an invitation to collective leadership and innovation with a long-term vision. Development banks must rethink their role as the coordinators of systems that drive these transformations, » Cuattromo asserted.

A high-level venue for exchanging ideas

The first plenary session was held on the first day of the meeting, focused on «Financial Strengthening in the Face of Global Critical Situations: Strategies to Mitigate Impacts in LAC,» as well as the panels «Navigating Geopolitical and Climate Challenges: Empowering Caribbean Development Banks for Comprehensive Security» and «Economic Outlook of the Dominican Republic and Central America: Opportunities for Development Banking.»

Additionally, presentations were given by Julio Enrique Caminero, Superintendent of Banks of the Dominican Republic; Antonio Ciriaco Cruz, Dean of the Department of Economic and Social Sciences of Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo; and Ricardo Santos, Economist of the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The second day of the event will feature the second plenary session «On the Path to Regional Energy Security: Innovative Mechanisms to Promote Investment,» as well as the session «Rapid Action Mechanisms for Natural and Climate-Related Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean,» and the ALIDE Awards 2025 ceremony.