What Happened
CADE 2026 opened on April 22 as APEDE’s flagship forum, bringing together leaders from multiple sectors to examine Panama’s path toward stronger international confidence, greater investment, and more jobs.
The gathering is centered on the theme “OECD: Global confidence, local progress? Panama’s future in debate,” reflecting the country’s interest in aligning with higher international standards and strengthening the conditions needed for sustained growth.
Leadership and Opening Session
APEDE president Giulia De Sanctis underscored the need to reinforce institutions, build trust, and deepen the country’s commitment to progress under global benchmarks. Her remarks placed governance and credibility at the center of the discussion, two elements often viewed as essential for attracting investment and supporting economic stability.
The forum began with a keynote lecture by economist Andrés Velasco, former finance minister of Chile and now dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics. Velasco drew on Chile’s experience as the first Latin American country to join the OECD in 2010, offering a regional perspective on the economic and governance challenges that come with that kind of process.
Why the Forum Matters
CADE has long served as a venue for debate on Panama’s economic and institutional future, and this year’s edition marks 60 years since the event began in 1966. That history gives the forum added weight as Panama considers how to improve competitiveness and create conditions that favor private-sector growth.
Over the course of the event, participants are scheduled to address public governance, transparency, competitiveness, human capital, and investment. Those topics are closely linked in Panama’s development agenda, since investor confidence and job creation depend not only on economic policy but also on public institutions that are seen as credible and effective.
Background and Broader Context
The OECD reference gives the forum a strategic frame. For Panama, any move closer to OECD standards would require continued attention to institutional quality, transparency, and long-term policy consistency. APEDE has positioned CADE 2026 as a space for informed dialogue on how the country can move in that direction while strengthening opportunities at home.
The forum will run through April 24, keeping attention on the balance between global confidence and local results. In that sense, the debate goes beyond technical economic indicators and touches on how Panama can translate reform, trust, and institutional strength into tangible progress for businesses and workers.