Latin America. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) estimates that crime and violence cost the region more than US$ 261 billion a year, which is equivalent to 3.55% of the region's GDP.
In Colombia, cyberattacks represent losses of more than $7 billion pesos per year, mainly due to digital fraud and ransomware. Each attack has an estimated economic impact of close to $1,000 million on average per company, which has made cybersecurity a key factor for business sustainability and attracting foreign investment.
Against this backdrop, Panama will host the 1st Security Congress of the Americas, from August 28 to 30, organized by the National Council for Private Security and FECOLSEP. The meeting will bring together more than 500 political leaders, businessmen, senior military commanders and security experts from countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the United States, along with specialized associations from Latin America.
"Congress seeks to open a dialogue between governments, companies and civil society to build a model of comprehensive and human security, based on cooperation, technology and respect for fundamental rights," said César Rodríguez, president of the National Council of Private Security.
For three days, keynote speeches, panels and discussions will be held on topics such as the economic impact of insecurity on competitiveness and foreign investment, cybercrime and protection of critical infrastructures, neurosecurity and artificial intelligence applied to crime, migration, climate change and transnational organized crime, as well as technological innovations in surveillance, data analysis and business risk management.
