Latibex Forum highlights Latin America's potential and closes its 25th edition with more than 250 meetings between investors and companies

• This year's edition highlighted the growing importance of sustainability in the investment sector and the opportunities that Latin America offers
• The Latibex Top index is up nearly 9% year-to-date and the Latibex Brazil index is up more than 11%

The Latibex 2023 Forum has concluded today after more than 250 meetings between 70 investors and 40 companies. This year’s event marks the 25th edition of this Forum, which after a quarter of a century of history has managed to establish itself as a benchmark in the promotion of business relations between Spain and Latin America. This year's Latibex Forum also had a significant international presence with investors from Finland, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Italy and Portugal. 25% of the investors present at the event came from outside Spain.

During the Forum, several panels were held on the economic situation in the region with special emphasis on the potential that Latin America offers in terms of sustainability, and also on its investment opportunities. The Latibex Top index and the Latibex All Share index rose nearly 9% over the year, while the Latibex Brazil index gained more than 10%.

The panels on the second day of the Forum focused on several of the most topical issues in the region. In the panel dedicated to renewable energies, representatives from Cemig, Cox Energy and Neoenergia highlighted that a quarter of the region's energy comes from renewable energies, double the world average. In addition, the region's potential in the face of the energy paradigm shift the world is facing was also discussed.

Panellists from Cuatrecasas, ICEX, Brücke and BTG Pactual reflected on Spain's central role as a gateway to Europe for Ibero-American investment. They stressed that Latin American companies and investors are attracted to Spain because of the geographical diversification, legal security, cultural affinity and the possibility of being a first step in their expansion in Europe that the country offers them.

The panel dedicated to sustainable financing, moderated by Gonzalo Gómez Retuerto, CEO of BME Renta Fija, was presented by representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uruguay, EthicFinance, ICO and the United Nations Development Programme. The panel was also attended by the Ambassador of Uruguay, Ms. Ana Teresa Ayala. The presentation analysed the different sustainable financing instruments with special emphasis on the Bonds Indexed to Climate Change Indicators issued by Uruguay since October last year.

Finally, Adigital, Argia Green, Cabify, Invest in Madrid, Revenga Smart Solutions and Telefónica took part in the last panel of the day, dedicated to digitalisation. The speakers highlighted the potential of digitalization in Latin America, which is growing very fast. They also highlighted that Spain is, after the United States, the second largest investor in the region, as well as the main destination in Europe for Latin American companies.

In his opening speech at the Forum, Javier Hernani, CEO of BME and Chairman of the Inter-American Federation of Exchanges (FIAB), highlighted BME's commitment to Latin America. This commitment is showcased through the creation of the Latibex market, which allows investors to trade shares of Latin American companies in euros, and the celebration of this same Forum, which in its 25 years has hosted more than 200 companies, 1,000 investors and 8,000 meetings.

Jesús González Nieto, Managing Director of the Latibex Forum, said: "BME is very pleased with this 25th edition of the Latibex Forum, which has established itself as a benchmark meeting point for Latin American investors and companies. Moreover, this year's edition was special not only because it celebrated its 25th anniversary, but also because its meetings and panels demonstrated the importance of the region in the sustainability sector, one of the fastest-growing and most promising sectors in the long term".

Santander and Cuatrecasas were the main sponsors of the 25th Latibex Forum, which also had Morningstar, CAF Development Bank of Latin America, ICEX, Invest In Madrid, Economcatica, Euroland IR and WTV as sponsors, and Instituto Español de Analistas, Atribus and CFA Society Spain as collaborators.

You can find all the information about the Latibex Forum, including the recording of all the panels, at this link.

All photos of the event are available on Flickr.