In Panama, IDB Group launches Talent Up and Cargo Pass Under the Program América en el Centro

PANAMA CITY - The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) convened the 39th Meeting of Governors of Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic in Panama City, ahead of the Group's Annual Meetings in Asunción, Paraguay, next month.

IDB governors, ministers of finance and economy, private-sector leaders, and strategic partners will discuss ways to boost sustainable growth through IDB Group's regional program América en el Centro, focusing on regional integration and investments in talent, together with key joint priorities for the year ahead.

América en el Centro promotes sustainable development and resilience in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, supporting coordinated action on cross-border challenges, with a focus on productivity and economic integration, resilience, and youth development.

Under this framework, the IDB will launch two new key initiatives:

• Cargo Pass is a regional program aiming to modernize logistics along the Pacific Corridor - where nearly 90% of Central America's cargo moves - by cutting border delays, improving traceability, and expanding logistics services across countries. The program could generate annual economic benefits exceeding $700 million with an investment of $130 million.
• Talent Up, developed in partnership with Google - its first strategic partner -, starts with an initial commitment of more than 60,000 digital-skills scholarships. The initiative will focus on areas including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics, helping close the gap between technology investment and the skills needed to use it productively.

"These two initiatives are excellent examples of how América en el Centro is bringing change in the region by connecting priorities with concrete results," said IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn. "Talent Up helps bridge the digital skills gap, while Cargo Pass tackles a key bottleneck in regional integration," he added.

In 2025, América en el Centro coordinated 12 operations totaling $2.2 billion, alongside technical cooperation, and advanced regional initiatives including Talent Up and Cargo Pass to modernize logistics services along the Pacific Corridor.

The 39th Meeting of Governors reaffirmed the IDB Group's commitment to supporting Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic as the Group moves toward its Annual Meetings in Paraguay.