Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the UK–Latin American Finance: Connecting Markets, Powering Growth conference, hosted by Canning House in partnership with Citi, at their headquarters in Canary Wharf, London. This timely gathering, held during UK FinTech Week 2025, brought together distinguished leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to explore how financial innovation can foster deeper ties and shared prosperity between the UK and Latin America.
Set against the backdrop of London’s dual role as a financial and technology capital—where, unlike in the US, “fin” and “tech” are just a short walk apart—the event positioned the UK as an agile and strategic partner for Latin America’s accelerating fintech and sustainability landscape.
Fintech Frontiers and the Power of Sustainable Finance
The first panel, From Financial Centres to Innovation Hubs: Strengthening UK–Latin America Ties for Global Growth, focused on the rapid growth of fintech across Latin America and how London’s financial ecosystem can serve as a critical enabler.
Panelists included:
- Luis Jiménez-McInnis, Representative in Europe at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), who highlighted the UK Sustainable Infrastructure Program (UK SIP) and its role in mobilising private capital for low-carbon infrastructure in the region.
- Jorge Rubio Nava, Global Head of Social Finance at Citi, who outlined Citi’s approach to inclusion and social finance in emerging markets.
- Oliver King, Sustainable Investing Product Specialist at Fusion by JP Morgan, who brought valuable insights into sustainability and investment trends.
- Tom Duff Gordon, Vice President of International Policy at Coinbase, who shared a memorable anecdote involving Salvadoran coffee and blockchain-enabled payments—an example that sparked interest and is likely to stay with attendees long after the event.
The discussion was moderated by Mark Simpson, Partner at Baker McKenzie, and helped frame how fintech and sustainable finance can act as bridges—not just between sectors, but across continents.
Keynote Address: Growth Unleashed
The keynote speech, Growth Unleashed, was delivered by The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Alastair King, who emphasized the urgency and opportunity in leveraging London’s financial infrastructure to support emerging markets and climate goals.
He was introduced by Baroness Gloria Hooper, Honorary Vice-President and former Honorary President of Canning House, whose longstanding commitment to UK–Latin American relations added a layer of historical and institutional depth to the occasion.
Financing Trade and Innovation Across Borders
The second panel, Finance in Action: Innovating Export Finance and Local Currency Funding Solutions for UK–Latin America Connectivity, explored the role of financial instruments in strengthening trade and investment flows—especially following the UK’s recent accession to the CPTPP.
The panel featured:
- Fernanda Juppet, CEO of Cryptomarket, who shared perspectives on fintech innovation and local currency funding.
- Juan Jimenez Perez, Director for Latin America at ERG International, who spoke about industrial investments and financing challenges across the region.
- Kieran Curtis, Head of EM Local Currency Debt at Aberdeen Asset Management, who analyzed emerging market dynamics from a macro-financial standpoint.
- Horacio Liendo, Head of Legal at Mercado Libre, who offered insights into regulatory and legal frameworks affecting cross-border finance.
The session was moderated by Tom Redfern, Founder and Senior Partner at Redfern Legal, who skillfully guided the conversation through the interplay between innovation, regulation, and opportunity.
Moving Forward: Dialogue That Drives Impact
The event concluded with remarks from Inma Ballester Garcia, Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Solutions UK, Europe and MEA at Citi Investment Management, and Jeremy Browne, CEO of Canning House.
The networking reception that followed allowed for valuable exchanges, reinforcing the spirit of partnership and the commitment to building lasting connections across regions.
I’m grateful to Jeremy Browne, the teams at Canning House and Citi, and all the esteemed speakers and moderators for such a forward-looking and thoughtful event. For ALKADO, which actively connects Latin America, Central Europe and the UK, the insights shared reaffirm the vital role of financial innovation in sustainable development and trade.
There is a real momentum—let’s continue building bridges between markets, institutions, and people.
