Latin America Leads the Way: Key Insights from the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay

Mar Martinez Puig
January 16, 2025
A group of officials stands on stage in front of a logo reading

Leaders gather for the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay

The Latin American Ideas Forum (FLI) 2024 brought together over 50 influential leaders, academics, former presidents, and experts from across the Americas to address the most pressing challenges facing the region. Hosted in Asunción, Paraguay, the forum showcased a powerful dialogue on sustainability, education, democracy, and technological innovation. Organized by the Latin American Presidential Mission and the Global Peace Foundation in collaboration with Fundación Esquipulas and the Patria Soñada Think-tank, this year’s forum served as a platform for actionable ideas to shape the future of Latin America and its place on the global stage. 

In his keynote address, Vinicio Cerezo, former President of Guatemala, said, “We have a historic opportunity to lead in sustainable development and innovation.”d His words echoed throughout the sessions, inspiring attendees to envision a resilient and prosperous region.

The Latin American Ideas Forum has been recognized as a national interest event in Paraguay. Click here to read more (in Spanish)

A group of people poses at the Foro Latinoamericano de las Ideas, with a large screen displaying the event name and the statement

Asunción, Paraguay – November 28-29, 2024 Eight distinguished former Latin American presidents inaugurated the second edition of the Latin American Ideas Forum 2024

 

 

Highlights from the Forum’s Panels

 

Green Revolution: Building Sustainable Economies

A woman speaks at a podium with the

Peruvian Biologist Sandro Chávez and Paraguay’s largest REDD+ project CEO, Kiantar Betancourt gather for the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay

The panel explored how Latin America can harness its vast natural resources to become a leader in sustainable development. 

  • Peruvian Biologist Sandro Chávez highlighted the integration of Indigenous communities into conservation efforts, sharing success stories like agreements protecting over 122,000 hectares of forest. “There is no development without sustainability,” Chávez emphasized, calling for proactive measures against climate change. 
  • Paraguay’s largest REDD+ project CEO, Kiantar Betancourt showcased Paraguay’s potential as a global leader in carbon credit production. “Our need to produce is equal to our need to preserve” he stated, urging for long-term partnerships to ensure sustainability. 

Panelists also discussed innovative solutions like biofuels, carbon markets, and circular economies, emphasizing the role of public-private partnerships in achieving lasting environmental and economic benefits. 

Invisible Borders: Rethinking Migration and Security

Attendees gather for the Foro Latinoamericano de las Ideas 2024 in Paraguay. Images reveal an engaged audience, a panel of four speakers, and a man at the podium. Discover how Latin America leads the way with key insights from this influential forum.

Lucas Kasiañuk, International Security Expert Boris Saavedra and Migration Policy Expert Diego Ortiz gather for the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay

This session tackled complex issues of migration, national security, and transnational crime in a rapidly globalizing world. 

  • Lucas Kasiañuk presented advancements in border control systems, such as the API/PNR initiative, which streamlines migration while enhancing national security. 
  • International Security Expert Boris Saavedra discussed cyberspace as a new frontier, stressing the importance of international cooperation to combat cybercrime in an era of artificial intelligence. 
  • Migration Policy Expert Diego Ortiz explored investment migration programs, highlighting their ability to drive economic growth and global integration. 

Panelists underscored the urgent need for technological solutions, stronger institutions, and regional collaboration to effectively address security and migration challenges.

Education 360°: Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders

At the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay, a woman speaks passionately at the podium. Among the attendees, a man with a microphone listens intently. The event captures the spirit of

Former Bolivian President Carlos Mesa, Vice Minister of Higher Education Federico Mora and Education Specialist Cristina Madrazo gather for the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay

This panel delved into the transformative power of education in driving sustainable development and fostering values-based leadership. 

  • Former Bolivian President Carlos Mesa stressed the twin pillars of education and health, advocating for intercultural education to promote dialogue and respect for diversity. “An educated society drives innovation and informed decision-making,” he said. 
  • Vice Minister of Higher Education Federico Mora highlighted technological innovations like the Unified Student Registry (RUE) to create data-driven educational policies. 
  • Education Specialist Cristina Madrazo focused on rural education, calling for tailored policies that address local needs. “Distance is not just physical but reflects a disconnect between public policies and communities,” she noted. 

The discussion emphasized the importance of teacher training, critical thinking, and values-based education to build a more equitable and innovative society. 

👉🏻 Did you know?
Global Peace Foundation India hosted a very similar Forum on Innovative Education for Global Peace and a Sustainable Future. Click here to learn more!👈🏻

Democracy 4.0: Revitalizing Governance

A man at the podium discusses key insights from the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay, with a map as his backdrop. Another man reads a document alongside attentive colleagues, while a woman, highlighting how Latin America leads the way, speaks into a microphone beside her partner.

Former Uruguayan President Luis Alberto Lacalle, Minister of Home Affairs Enrique Riera and Sociologist José Fernando Duarte gather for the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay

This session explored the intersection of technology and governance, focusing on how digital tools can modernize democracies and restore public trust. 

  • Former Uruguayan President Luis Alberto Lacalle warned about the fragmentation of political systems and highlighted the importance of representative legitimacy. 
  • Minister of Home Affairs Enrique Riera advocated for moral authority in governance and called for reforms in political party systems. 
  • Sociologist José Fernando Duarte urged for cultural and ideological debates to strengthen young democracies like Paraguay. 

Panelists emphasized the role of technology in enhancing transparency, ethical governance, and citizen participation, proposing actionable solutions to combat corruption and misinformation. 

Digital Intelligence: Bridging Gaps with Technology

Participants at the Foro Latinoamericano de las Ideas engaged attentively, with a speaker addressing the crowd. The event, themed

Clauss Pistilli, Carlos Cantero and Fabio Bullrich gather for the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay

The final panel addressed how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies can reduce inequalities and drive social inclusion. 

  • Clauss Pistilli shared Paraguay’s initiatives to close the digital divide through inclusive AI policies. “We work to ensure no one is left behind,” he said. 
  • Carlos Cantero explored AI’s societal transformation, questioning whether we are in “an era of change or a change of era.” 
  • Fabio Bullrich highlighted the risks of overregulation and the need to integrate AI into educational and economic strategies. “Companies that fail to adopt AI will lose competitiveness,” he warned. 

Discussions revolved around balancing innovation with ethical governance, ensuring technology serves as a tool for human progress rather than exclusion. 

Strategic Integration and Special Economic Zones: Unlocking Latin America’s Potential

A man speaks at a podium while a woman captures the moment in the audience. Nearby, five men pose confidently in front of a

Roberto Artavia, Minister of Paraguayan Foreign Affairs Luis Castiglioni, Manuel Riera and Pedro Céspedes gather for the 2024 Latin American Ideas Forum in Paraguay

This panel examined the transformative role of special economic zones in fostering sustainable development and enhancing Latin America’s integration into global markets. 

Roberto Artavia highlighted the potential of free zones to create value-added opportunities and drive regional competitiveness. “Paraguay could be a formidable competitor because its platform is unique in South America. We need free zones to create value-added products using our knowledge and resources,” he stated. 

Minister of Paraguayan Foreign Affairs Luis Castiglioni addressed the structural challenges Paraguay faces in global trade, emphasizing the importance of a strong rule of law. “Without legal certainty and equality before justice, achieving our development goals will be difficult,” he warned. Castiglioni also called for learning from Uruguay’s commercial model to maximize Mercosur’s benefits. 

Manuel Riera advocated for institutionalized strategic planning to ensure the continuity of large-scale economic projects. “Strategic planning must transcend individuals and governments to establish a lasting foundation for development,” he remarked. 

Pedro Céspedes stressed the lack of continuity in economic initiatives as a critical obstacle. “Every five years, everything starts over. We lack consistency in major projects,” he observed. 

Panelists underscored the importance of legal frameworks, long-term strategies, and leveraging successful models to position Paraguay and Latin America as leaders in sustainable economic development. 

 

 

 

A Platform for Regional Transformation 

 

The Latin American Ideas Forum 2024 achieved more than a dynamic exchange of ideas; it laid the groundwork for actionable strategies to address Latin America’s most pressing challenges. Participants left inspired by a shared vision: a region that embraces sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity to build a brighter future. 

“This forum is more than a conversation; it’s a roadmap for action,” remarked one participant, encapsulating the event’s impact. 

As the curtains closed in Asunción, the message was clear: Latin America is not just a region of challenges but a land of opportunities, poised to lead on the global stage with resilience and purpose.

You can access the Forum videos (in Spanish) by clicking here.

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