BIM | 11 countries participated in Locfund Next congress in El Salvador

Locfund Next held the second version of the ‘Foro Connect’ congress this August 14 and 15 at the Hilton Hotel in San Salvador, El Salvador, with more than 100 managers and directors from 35 institutions from 11 countries or Latinamerica and the Caribbean.

The inauguration was attended by the IDB Group representative in El Salvador, Mrs. Olga Gómez García, who arrived along with other executives, such as Carmen Blandón and Fernando Catalano, from IDB LAB, and commented on the importance of joining efforts to reduce gaps and improve the quality of life of diverse populations.

Foro Connect is Locfund’s annual event to advance financial inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is an initiative whose objective is to generate a space for meeting, analysis and industry trends, as well as an environment for the exchange of experiences, the updating of knowledge and the generation of new opportunities.

The Foro Connect had international guests who presented on experiences and institutional cases around the central theme which this year was: ‘Current market trends: the challenge of transformation”. These guests were:

  • Paulo Emilio Rivas, President of Banco Contactar, Colombia.
  • Francisco Moreno, Executive Director of Fundación Espoir, Ecuador
  • Guillermo Rondón, Vice President Financial Intermediation, Banco Unión, Dominican Rep.
  • Mirian Ardona, Chief Financial Officer, Credicampo, El Salvador
  • Cesar Barahona, General Manager, SAC Apoyo Integral, El Salvador

The topics of the panels and presentations dealt with: market situation and perspectives; institutional strengthening with technical assistance in the current context; challenges: growth, over-indebtedness and liquidity; capital markets and financing, among others.

The participants, more than 100 executives, including general managers, financial managers and board members, were pleased with the meeting, both for the possibility of updating on what is happening in the sector in a world in constant change, and for the opportunity to connect with colleagues, thus generating synergies, exchanges and new opportunities that improve the market and the services they provide.

As part of the forum, Locfund held a recognition event to the institutions it has been working with for more than 10 and 15 years, presenting them with an award, which was attended by Fernando Sanchez, CEO of BIM and Locfund Next.

Locfund has so far supported more than 90 microfinance institutions in 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This industry, in general, currently serves 20 million people in the region, providing financial services and products that enable them to improve their living conditions. However, there are still more than 130 million people who require financial services to generate better opportunities for themselves and their families.