San JosĆ©, Costa Rica. February 3, 2026 ā The Trust for the Americas, an affiliate of the Organization of American States (OAS), in partnership with the Citi Foundation, celebrated the launch of a regional project aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and employability as key drivers of inclusive economic prosperity in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The event brought together leaders from the private sector, institutions linked to trade and competitiveness, civil society organizations, and specialized media outlets. Within this framework, the strategic panel āHow Alliances Redefine Economic Prosperityā was held, conceived as a space for dialogue to analyze the role of multisectoral partnerships in generating sustainable economic growth, quality employment, and productive entrepreneurship in the region.
The panel featured Linda Eddleman, CEO of The Trust for the Americas; Elizabeth Arroyave, CEO of EA Tech and vice president of the Chamber of Information Technology (CAMTIC); Ed SƔnchez, Citi Country Officer & Banking Head (CCOBH) for Costa Rica; and Ivannia Arguedas, Director of Innovation and Projects at PROCOMER. The session was moderated by Milenia Romero, executive director of Hogar Siembra.
During the event, Ambassador Sergio Vinocour, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica, shared the countryās vision regarding the strategic role of international cooperation as a catalyst for sustainable development. During his remarks, he highlighted the importance of moving toward results-oriented cooperation models, emphasizing how the Organization of American States, through its affiliate The Trust for the Americas, helps translate hemispheric priorities into tangible and measurable impacts in Member States.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that economic prosperity can no longer be approached through isolated efforts or traditional intervention models. Instead, the need to promote new forms of collaboration between the private sector, the public sector, and civil society was underscored, designed with a vision of scale, sustainability, and concrete economic results.
This event officially marked the launch of a regional project focused on technological training, employability, and entrepreneurship. Its objective is to strengthen capacities and facilitate access to real economic opportunities for 700 people in vulnerable situations in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Panama. The initiative is part of a strategic commitment to more inclusive and sustainable development models in the region.
Linda Eddleman underscored the importance of working in partnership to drive social and economic development in the Member States of the Organization of American States, such as Costa Rica. āFor us, the launch of this project represents an opportunity to further scale the impact we have in Costa Rica through joint work with various sectors. We aspire to strengthen coordination with the private sector to transform this initiative into concrete economic opportunities, which translate into higher incomes for families and qualified talent for businesses and startups that integrate into the country's value chains,ā she stated.
Ed Sanchez noted: At Citi, we feel deeply honored and committed to being participants and fundamental support in this alliance. We are convinced that multi-sector collaboration is the essential engine for forging inclusive and sustainable economic prosperity. Through this project, we reaffirm our vision of empowering the most vulnerable communities, providing them with the necessary tools and opportunities so that entrepreneurship and employability become pillars of their development. Together, we are investing in a more equitable and dynamic future for our region.ā
Hogar Siembra hosted this landmark event, during which, as part of the program, attendees took a tour of the Trust Centerās facilitiesāan initiative that supports vulnerable girls and adolescents in the community. This experience provided tangible evidence of how multisectoral partnerships translate into concrete results in terms of training, employability, and community development.
The meeting concluded with a high-level reflection on the strategic role of multisectoral partnerships in building inclusive and sustainable economic prosperity.
About The Trust for the Americas:
The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization that promotes social and economic inclusion in the hemisphere by developing key skills for employability, entrepreneurship, and innovation. As an affiliate of the Organization of American States, The Trust fosters regional and local partnerships with the public, private, academic, and civil society sectors. Since its inception, it has worked in more than 29 countries in the Americas and has reached more than 6 million people through initiatives that connect training, technology, and real economic opportunities.
For more information: www.thetrustfortheamericas.org