The Foro Connect 2026 begins
The Connect 2026 Forum began with a key reflection on the future of financial inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean: before projecting the future, it is essential to understand the challenges of the present.
During the opening session, Cesar Castillo, CIO of Locfund Next, analyzed the region’s current context, characterized by sluggish domestic demand, low productivity levels, and increasing exposure to external shocks. Against this backdrop, he highlighted that microfinance institutions today face the convergence of five major transformative forces: macroeconomics, climate change, geopolitics, digital competition, and talent management.
Throughout his presentation, Cesar Castillo emphasized the need to refocus on people and the purpose that has historically guided the sector. His remarks offered attendees valuable insights:
- “What is the most expensive financing? The kind that doesn’t exist.”
- “A good client possesses financial wisdom.”
- “We are so focused on competing that we have lost sight of the client profile.”
These ideas reinforced a call to return to the essentials: getting to know clients better, strengthening financial literacy, and developing solutions that create sustainable value for those most in need of access to opportunities.
With this approach, the Connect 2026 Forum opens a dialogue on how institutions can adapt to an increasingly complex environment without losing sight of their core mission: driving financial inclusion and contributing to the development of individuals and their communities.
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