Key Takeaways from the 2025 COA Symposium

In October, the Council of the Americas convened its annual Symposium under the theme “Driving Latin America’s Future: Innovation, Competitiveness, and Global Integration.” The event brought together more than 500 senior business leaders—including CEOs, presidents, and industry pioneers—from across Latin America’s diverse sectors and geographies. It offered a unique opportunity to hear directly from those leading the region’s transformation and to explore the ideas, strategies, and innovations shaping its future.

The discussions emphasized how innovation, competitiveness, and integration are redefining Latin America’s growth model. Through examples spanning technology, finance, industry, leadership and governance, participants examined how the region can harness its potential to achieve sustainable progress, global relevance, and shared prosperity.

Innovation: Unlocking Productivity and Inclusion Through Technology

Innovation was recognized as a critical enabler of Latin America’s future growth. The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies is redefining how the region works, produces, and competes. With analytical and generative AI projected to add between $17 trillion and $26 trillion to the global economy annually and to boost productivity by 0.5 to 3.4 percentage points¹. Globally, over three-quarters of organisations say they use AI in at least one business function, and in particular, GenAI adoption is growing rapidly². 

Latin America stands at the threshold of a transformative opportunity. The region’s historically low productivity growth highlights the need for more than just technological adoption—it calls for leadership that promotes a culture of experimentation, agility, and continuous learning. Across industries, organizations are using AI to go beyond automation, reimagining their operations, improving customer engagement, and expanding access to financial and digital services. Yet scaling these technologies requires stronger collaboration between private enterprises and public institutions to build enabling digital infrastructure, develop talent, and ensure responsible implementation.

One sector at the forefront of Latin America’s innovation—driving both productivity gains and broader inclusion—is financial services. By harnessing AI and digital platforms, financial institutions are reshaping the region’s economic landscape, democratizing access to products and services, and extending reach to previously excluded consumers through data-driven credit and behavioral insights that surpass traditional models. AI and agentic AI are being applied to enhance payment experiences, strengthen cybersecurity, reduce fraud, and formalize segments of the informal economy. For reference, digital payment adoption in Latin America has accelerated rapidly—nearly doubling between 2021 and 2023, with the share of consumers preferring non-cash methods surpassing 70 percent across major markets.³ 

Global Integration: Positioning Latin America in a Multipolar World

Global integration has long been a key source of economic growth for Latin America—and it is once again emerging as a strategic imperative. As global trade patterns shift amid geopolitical realignments, developed economies are diversifying their trade partnerships to reduce dependence on specific markets. This transformation presents both opportunities and challenges for Latin America, which is increasingly positioning itself as a pivotal player in a more multipolar global economy.⁴ 

The region’s strategic location and competitive cost base have strengthened its ties with North America through near-shoring and supply-chain diversification, while its connections with Asia and Europe continue to expand. This reconfiguration places Latin America at the crossroads of global value chains, offering a unique opportunity to move beyond its traditional dependence on commodity-based exports—which still account for around 50 percent of total exports—toward higher-value manufacturing, technology services, and renewable industries.⁵ 

However, to fully capture these benefits, the region must overcome persistent structural and regulatory barriers. Differing customs procedures, fragmented financial and technology regulations, and logistical inefficiencies continue to constrain regional trade flows. Achieving sustained growth will therefore depend on enhanced public-private coordination, particularly in aligning trade, technology, and financial standards across borders. Governments can play a catalytic role by facilitating access to technology, supporting the development of regional logistics corridors, and creating a more streamlined and predictable regulatory environment. A unified regional approach—anchored in collaboration and integration—will be essential for Latin America to compete as a cohesive and influential player in the global economy.

Competitiveness: Building Resilient and Sustainable Growth

Competitiveness emerged as a second major focus area. Amidst an evolving landscape and a volatile regional and local context, discussions highlighted that long-term competitiveness relies on an entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and disciplined execution. Companies across sectors are evolving beyond traditional models by diversifying portfolios, formalizing governance, and embedding sustainability into corporate strategy. These shifts are helping Latin American firms balance short-term pressures with long-term goals, strengthen access to capital, and increase operational efficiency—key enablers of productivity-led competitiveness.

Sustainability was identified as both an imperative and a competitive advantage. Organizations are integrating environmental and social priorities into their business agendas—investing in renewable energy, circular production systems, and community development programs. This dual focus on performance and purpose reflects a broader recognition that enduring competitiveness requires aligning profit with progress.

Leadership: Adaptability, Purpose, and Transformation

Leadership adaptability was highlighted as a defining factor for Latin America’s sustained development. The region’s most successful companies have demonstrated that longevity stems from combining strategic clarity, strong values, and the ability to evolve with the times.

Particular attention was given to centennial multilatinas—Latin American companies that have operated for over a century and evolved into global benchmarks of resilience. These organizations exemplify how innovation, disciplined governance, and purpose-driven leadership can sustain growth across generations and expand beyond their local markets. Their success has been shaped by clear governance structures, a balance between diversification and focus, and a long-term orientation that prioritizes continuity over short-term gains.

These examples also highlight that adaptability is not about reacting to change, but about proactively shaping it. By institutionalizing a culture of innovation, maintaining strong community ties, and upholding core values, these companies have proven that enduring success requires both flexibility and steadfast purpose.

A Shared Vision for the Region’s Future

Across all topics, a shared conclusion emerged: Latin America’s next chapter will be defined by its ability to innovate boldly, compete globally, and integrate effectively. By leveraging its entrepreneurial energy, deep talent base, and expanding global partnerships, the region can accelerate inclusive and sustainable growth.

The October conference reaffirmed that the region’s potential lies not only in its natural and human resources but also in its capacity for collaboration and reinvention. With innovation as a catalyst, competitiveness as a compass, and leadership as the anchor, Latin America is positioned to play a defining role in the global economy—unlocking new pathways for prosperity and resilience in the years ahead.

¹ McKinsey & Company; The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier; 2023 
² McKinsey & Company; State of AI: How organizations are rewiring to capture value; 2025
³ McKinsey & Company; The Rapid Evolution of Payments in Latin America; 2023
⁴ McKinsey & Company; Geopolitics and the geometry of global trade; 2025
⁵ McKinsey & Company; What could a new era mean for Latin America; 2023

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