LATIN AMERICA / CARIBBEAN – CAF, the development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, together with Panama’s National Authority for Government Innovation (AIG), organized the first Regional Workshop on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) , which brought together government delegations from Central America and the Caribbean to consolidate a shared vision for the region’s digital future.
This inaugural meeting kicks off the DPI LATAM 2025 cycle, which will continue in Peru as part of a regional strategy that seeks to articulate policies and solutions around three fundamental pillars: digital identity, interoperable payments, and secure data exchange. The workshop agenda included the presentation of national experiences, pilot projects, and the addressing of common challenges, with a view to developing regional guidelines aimed at strengthening digital sovereignty and promoting citizen inclusion.
The conceptual approach of these workshops recognizes four key dimensions that support the DPI ecosystem: technological infrastructure, regulatory and institutional frameworks, change management in digital transformation environments, and the integration of public and private digital services. This perspective ensures a comprehensive vision for sustainable and secure digital development.
The workshop was opened by CAF’s representative in Panama, Lucía Meza, and AIG’s General Manager, Adolfo Fábrega.
Representing the invited countries and actors were:
- Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT) of Costa Rica
Diego Leiva – Director of Digital Governance - Presidential Directorate of Results-Based Management and Digital Government (DPGRGD) of Honduras
Carlos A. Rodríguez Bendaña – Coordinator - Secretariat of Innovation of El Salvador
Daniel Méndez – Secretary
Fátima Mareth Rodríguez Ibáñez – Undersecretary - Ministry of Telecommunications (MINTEL) of Ecuador
Carlos A. Saavedra – Undersecretary - Government Office of Information and Communication Technologies (OGTIC) of the Dominican Republic
Manuel Mayrele Checo – Director of Digital Services - Secretariat of Government and Digital Transformation of Peru
Jaime A. Honores Coronado – Secretary - Government Innovation Authority (AIG) of Panama
Eng. Adolfo Fábrega – General Administrator
Eng. Francisco Guinard – Deputy General Administrator - Electoral Tribunal of Panama
Mike Martínez – Director of Technology
Gumersindo García Domínguez – Advisor to the Office
Also taking part in the workshop were:
- Aura Cifuentes, Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at Co-Develop
- Diego Fernández, former Secretary of Innovation of the City of Buenos Aires
- Sebastián Cabello, CEO of SmC+ Digital Public Affairs
- Luis Papagni, consultant specializing in IPR
Alejandro Forero and Camilo Cetina, along with Martín Olmos and Emily Carrera, participated remotely, representing the Digital Transformation Department.
Digital Public Infrastructures transcend the technological realm and are positioned as the new framework for the 21st-century State. Their development enables the provision of accessible, secure, inclusive, and transparent services for citizens, while also strengthening trust in public management . As the workshop concluded: “Digital Public Infrastructures are not just technology; they are the new framework for the 21st-century State. They enable the provision of more accessible, inclusive, secure, and transparent services for people, and they generate trust in public management.” It’s not just about technology; modern legal frameworks, political leadership, human talent, open standards, and sustainable financing are needed. And, above all, clear governance that articulates all stakeholders.
The workshop was attended by representatives from Ecuador, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Panama, as well as Co-develop as a strategic partner, academic stakeholders, and representatives from the private sector and civil society. One of the main achievements was the initial validation of a financing strategy and a roadmap toward regional governance of IPRs, with the formation of specific working groups on digital identity and interoperability.
CAF thus reaffirms its commitment to supporting member countries through technical assistance, financing, and multilateral cooperation , with the goal of transforming intellectual property rights into a regional public good and accelerating the transition toward more inclusive and sustainable digital states.
The LATAM 2025 ECD cycle is expected to consolidate a regional network of key stakeholders, validate technical and policy approaches, and advance shared guidelines. It will also seek to identify pilot projects and opportunities for cooperation, laying the groundwork for a permanent forum to advance the ECD agenda in the region.
This first workshop marks a key foundational event for the consolidation of a Latin American and Caribbean digital agenda, where innovation and regional collaboration will be driving forces to improve the quality of life of millions of people.
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