The Banking & Insurance sector – often referred to as the lifeblood of the real economy – is of vital importance in the modern credit-driven economic growth model. Among its functions are intermediation between savers and borrowers, ensuring funds are allocated efficiently; support of payment and settlement systems that facilitate trade and international economic relations; and provision of various products that mitigate risk and uncertainty. The accelerating pace of technological change, stricter regulation and shifting consumer habits are reshaping the traditional banking model and pushing the sector towards innovation-led growth.
Activities associated with Banking & Insurance are depositary and non-depositary credit intermediation and related activities, investment banking, securities brokerage, commodity contracts dealing and diverse financial investment activities. The sector also includes insurers, re-insurers and insurance brokerages, pension funds, health and welfare funds, monetary authorities, stock exchanges, and collection and credit agencies.
In 2024, electricity generation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) grew by 5.5%, primarily driven by the expansion of wind and solar photovoltaic plants, as well as an increased share of natural gas in the energy matrix. In order of ...
View more details
Latin America is home to some of the world's largest reserves of metallic minerals, including copper, iron ore and zinc. As such, the region has numerous metal processing companies and plays an important role in the global trade of metals such as ...
View more details
Latin America's role in the global automotive sector has diminished in the past ten years. In 2023, the region accounted for 7.6% of the world's production and 5.9% of global sales. Nine out of every ten vehicles manufactured in the region are made ...
View more details
Brazil's transportation sector is a fundamental pillar of the economy, supporting the country's position as a global leader in agricultural and mineral exports. In terms of the sector's structure, road transport dominates, handling 64.9% of domestic ...
View more details
Brazil is the largest pharmaceutical market in Latin America, with retail drug sales of USD 27.1bn for the 12 months ending in June 2022. Brazil's pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors are transitioning into the post-pandemic period with some ...
View more details
Brazil's transport infrastructure sector has seen an influx of private players following several waves of privatisation that began in the late 1990s, and looks set to continue with various actions promoted by the federal government to attract private ...
View more details
In 2023 and 2024 economic activity in Latin America moderated after the post-pandemic rebound in 2022, and according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) the region's GDP is expected to grow by 2.1% in real terms in ...
View more details