Sat | Feb 7, 2026

CAF Business Matchmaking Forum generates over US$72m in commercial expectations

Published:Saturday | February 7, 2026 | 12:08 AM
The business matchmaking roundtable, organised by CAF within the framework of the International Economic Forum held in Panama last week, was the first of its kind in Latin America and the Caribbean. It brought together more than 400 business leaders, who h
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The business matchmaking roundtable, organised by CAF within the framework of the International Economic Forum held in Panama last week, was the first of its kind in Latin America and the Caribbean. It brought together more than 400 business leaders, who held more than 4,000 business meetings with buyers from 34 countries.

PANAMA CITY, Panama

The business matchmaking roundtable, organised by CAF within the framework of the International Economic Forum, was the first of its kind in Latin America and the Caribbean. It brought together more than 400 business leaders, who held more than 4,000 business meetings with buyers from 34 countries.

The Latin America and the Caribbean Business Matchmaking Forum generated US$72.2 million in commercial expectations, according to reports from participating international buyers. Of this amount, US$2.6 million corresponded to deals closed during the event itself. This marked the first business matchmaking roundtable exclusively among countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, organised by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean as part of the International Economic Forum – Latin America and the Caribbean 2026.

Held on January 29-30, in Panama City, the event brought together for the first time 149 buyers from 34 countries and nearly 270 exporters from 20 countries. Private sector representatives from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Curaçao participated in the event.

Other participating markets included the United States, Germany, Canada, Spain, Italy, Japan, South Korea, India, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay and Bolivia.

“The success of this business matchmaking forum demonstrates that Latin America and the Caribbean has a competitive export offering with the capacity to integrate into global markets. This space has become one of the region’s main platforms for business connection, generating new commercial opportunities and strengthening productive value chains,” said Sergio Díaz-Granados, executive president of CAF.

According to the consolidated results reported by buyers, it is projected that US$9.1 million in business deals will be concluded over the next three months; US$20.6 million within a three- to six-month period; and an additional US$21.6 million thereafter. These projections underscore the strong potential for commercial linkages generated during the event.

Over the two-day period, more than 4,000 business meetings were held, averaging over 20 meetings per participating company, through 25-minute one-on-one sessions scheduled in advance, in addition to further meetings arranged on site.

The sectors that recorded the highest level of engagement were agri-food, manufacturing, fashion, and services, reflecting the diversity and sophistication of the region’s export offering.