OLACDE took part in the 2026 Latin America and the Caribbean International Economic Forum, held in Panama, an event that brought together more than 4,000 global experts and included the participation of heads of State and Government, ministers, business leaders, representatives of international organizations, and academic figures. The forum drew more than 6,000 registered attendees from 70 countries to discuss the region’s main development challenges and opportunities.
Within this framework, OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, Andrés Rebolledo Smitmans, took part in the panel “Clean Energy and Energy Transition,” where he noted that Latin America and the Caribbean is today the greenest region in the world, with a renewable energy mix that reached 69% in 2025 and is projected to reach 78% by 2050.
During his remarks, Rebolledo emphasized that the region is advancing through diverse energy transitions, marked by different paces, technologies, and regulatory requirements. He also highlighted the challenges associated with the growing penetration of variable renewable energy, the need for storage, and the increasing sophistication of electricity systems.
He further underscored the strategic role of regional energy integration, based on complementarities between countries and joint planning opportunities, as a key factor in improving competitiveness and strengthening energy security.
“Latin America and the Caribbean is today the greenest region in the world. Our challenge is to turn that leadership into integration, investment, and flexible regulations that enable diverse and socially legitimate energy transitions,” said OLACDE’s Executive Secretary.
As part of the 2026 Latin America and the Caribbean International Economic Forum, Andrés Rebolledo Smitmans also carried out an intensive agenda of bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and promoting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient energy transitions.
During the meeting with Panama’s Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, Carlos Guevara Mann, the two exchanged views on the country’s progress in energy transition, regional integration, and multilateral cooperation, highlighting Panama’s strategic role as a regional connector and platform for energy integration initiatives.
Likewise, in the meeting held with Dalila Gonçalves, UNOPS Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, opportunities were discussed for expanding technical collaboration in the design and implementation of energy projects aligned with international standards. The dialogue placed particular emphasis on developing resilient infrastructure, efficient resource management, and strengthening institutional capacities as key elements for accelerating the region’s energy transition.
In the exchange with Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the close relationship between energy, food security, and rural development was highlighted. In this context, synergies were identified to promote sustainable energy solutions in agricultural areas, fostering productivity, inclusion, and resilience in rural communities.
Finally, OLACDE’s Executive Secretary held a meeting with the President of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO), Deputy Rolando González Patricio, with the aim of advancing toward a strategic alliance to drive a common agenda in favor of just energy transitions, with a social, territorial, and long-term approach for Latin America and the Caribbean.
