• The agency’s acting director, Juan Pablo Candia, shared Chile’s experience alongside other regional investment promotion agencies at the IDB’s 2026 Regional Policy Dialogue on Trade and Investment in Panama. 

InvestChile’s acting director, Juan Pablo Candia, participated in the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) 2026 Regional Policy Dialogue on Trade and Investment, held in Panama City. 

The event brought together government officials, private-sector leaders, academics, and development experts to discuss strengthening the region’s competitiveness and resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment. 

One event highlight was the launch of the Latin America and Caribbean Investment Promotion and Facilitation Network, led by the IDB’s Trade and Investment Division. 

At the event, Candia shared Chile’s experience alongside regional investment promotion agencies and highlighted priorities the network can help address. 

“Today, taxpayers and political players are far more demanding. Most people are unaware of the market shortcomings that shape investment decisions—such as the lack of information companies face when deciding where to invest—making it difficult to explain why public funds should be used to promote investment,” Candia noted. 

“That is why it is essential to raise awareness around FDI and clearly communicate the impact of investment promotion agencies in attracting quality investment and creating quality jobs,” Candia remarked. 

“As a network, we can build a shared understanding of sustainable investment and collaborate on talent—the most critical enabler of FDI across many sectors. With AI transforming industries like global services, we need to determine, as a country, which skills to develop and which groups of workers to prioritize in our training and preparation efforts,” stated InvestChile’s acting director. 

Why is this network important? 

According to IDB studies, every US$1 invested in investment promotion has generated up to US$56 in additional foreign direct investment (FDI). 

For the first time, a single platform brings together the 26 IDB borrowing member countries to promote and facilitate investment. 

The network will enable members to share best practices and investment intelligence, while supporting investors throughout the entire cycle, from initial contact to reinvestment. 

For InvestChile, collaborating with regional counterparts is key to attracting more and better foreign investment and positioning Chile as a competitive destination.