Some 1,800 bankers from 46 countries participated in the official opening of the 58th Annual Assembly of the Latin American Federation of Banks (FELABAN 2024), which is taking place in Asunción, with a view to establishing alliances and strengthening the financial sector towards a better future.
During the event, the president of the Latin American Federation of Banks (FELABAN), Daniel Becker Feldman, highlighted the importance of building a resilient, structured, dynamic and sufficiently flexible system to be able to adapt to the changes to come.
In this regard, he stressed the need for a system that will last over time and, above all, become a reference for the type of institutions and leadership required in Latin America to exploit all of its potential and become a reference for other regions of the world.
“A system that, like banking, helps build bridges between the past and the future, in this way making the dreams of many people come true,” he stressed.
He said that although the current situation in the region is difficult, he sees a promising future if experiences continue to be shared to create a more equitable world and tools and methods for the new generations to achieve their goals. “I am sure that FELABAN 2024 is a key catalyst to continue along this path,” he added.
The authorities urged that the meeting be used to consolidate connections and exchange ideas, especially to strengthen alliances that will propel the different countries and the financial sector into the future.
In turn, the Secretary General of FELABAN, Giorgio Trettenero, expressed his concern about a series of measures that have been taken in the region, which, in his opinion, hinder the functioning of financial operations.
Interest rate controls end up restricting the supply of credit, generating adverse discrimination against credit subjects, distorting the measures and affecting asset quality.
In this regard, he considered that promoting a construction plan with the industry, with a technical vision, is an effective way to achieve better results.
In another part of his speech, he also spoke about the cybersecurity incidents that have multiplied around the world in relation to what happened during the Covid-19 pandemic. The financial sector appears to be one of the most threatened, he said.
“Cybersecurity is a key element in financial inclusion through public trust. It is urgent that private entities have response plans and increasingly efficient entities to deal with problems that may arise from a breach of cybersecurity,” he said.
On the other hand, he highlighted the role of the sector in the economic scheme, but at the same time, he called for establishing clear and stable rules that are in line with the changing times of the world.
