Regional forum in Guatemala highlights BCIE’s strategy to advance sustainable financial inclusion

Guatemala City, July 11, 2025.- During the VI Central American Forum on Financial Inclusion, themed "From Inclusion to Sustainability: Triple Impact Finance and Equitable Markets" and organized by UN Women, the Executive President of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), Gisela Sánchez, delivered a keynote address presenting the Bank's 2025-2029 Institutional Strategy through a triple-impact lens.

In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of clear impact indicators and reaffirmed the Bank's commitment to financial inclusion through financial intermediation programs designed to promote gender equity, entrepreneurship, and women's economic empowerment.

"At CABEI, we believe in financial solutions that place people at the center. Financial inclusion with a gender and sustainability focus is not just a goal, it's a path to improving lives, reducing inequalities, and creating real opportunities. This means designing purpose-driven instruments, building strategic partnerships, and, above all, listening to people's needs" she stated.

As part of the event, CABEI Senior Economist Carlos Gallegos, in collaboration with UN Women, presented the study "Socioeconomic Analysis of Proposals for the National Care System in El Salvador". The findings demonstrate how investment in care services can support labor participation and improve household economic resilience, particularly by easing the unpaid care burden that disproportionately affects women.

One of the report's key insights is that expanding access to care services is not only a response to a pressing social need, it also unlocks potential income for families through increased labor market participation or productive activity by caregivers.

The forum concluded with closing remarks from CABEI's Chief Economist, Armando Navarrete, who underscored the importance of continuing to advance financial inclusion initiatives that deliver triple impact. He also emphasized the need for data-driven analysis to close persistent gender gaps and the development of tools to foster more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable financial systems.

CABEI's participation in this forum reflects its regional leadership in shaping a sustainable financial ecosystem, one that champions gender equity, inclusive access to financial services, and the financial well-being of the most vulnerable populations. Since 2019, these forums have served as a vital platform for collaborative knowledge-sharing, innovative proposals, and impactful solutions aimed at strengthening financial inclusion through a comprehensive development lens.