Panama City · April 28–29, 2026.
- Economic Impact: USD $88.7 billion in regional GDP and 3.9 million jobs across the value chain reaffirm the association’s commitment to integrating the brewing industry into the productive and social fabric of Latin America and the Caribbean. — Tania E. Ramos Beltrán, Executive Director, Cerveceros Latinoamericanos.
- Global Agenda: From the Caribbean to the South Pacific, Central America, North America, and the World — Justin Kissinger, CEO of the World Brewing Alliance (WBA), reaffirms the importance of Latin America and the Caribbean in the global industry conversation.
- Regional Outlook: Keynote Speeches + Panel Discussions featuring Erika Mouynes (former Foreign Minister, Harvard Fellow); Darma Romero (EY Panama); Astrid Gallardo (NielsenIQ) — and industry representatives from 24 countries sharing challenges, opportunities, and best practices from their subregions.
CervezaConnect 2026 – Annual Meeting of Latin American Brewers.
Cerveceros Latinoamericanos successfully held CervezaConnect 2026, its Annual Meeting, on April 28 and 29 in Panama City. The event brought together representatives from the brewing industry in 24 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, cementing the forum’s status as the premier gathering for an industry that contributes more than USD 88.7 billion to the regional GDP, supports 3.9 million jobs across the value chain, and boasts more than 80 years of brewing tradition in the region.
INSTITUTIONAL TRANSPARENCY: THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS, SITTING AT THE SAME TABLE
The event opened with welcoming remarks by José Ramón Icaza Clément, Minister for Canal Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority, who emphasized the host country’s role as a logistical and commercial bridge for the Americas and highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in sustaining regional growth.
Opening Remarks by Minister José Ramón Icaza Clément. Panama, 2026. CervezaConnect 2026 – Annual Meeting of Latin American Brewers.
LEADING VOICES IN THE INDUSTRY
The agenda featured high-profile speakers: Erika Mouynes, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama and Resident Fellow at Harvard, who provided insight into the regional geopolitical landscape; Darma Romero of EY (Ernst & Young) Panama, who presented a fiscal and regulatory analysis; and Astrid Gallardo of NielsenIQ. The program also included roundtable discussions where industry representatives from the 24 countries shared the challenges and opportunities facing their subregions and markets, as well as the best practices that are driving the sector’s sustainable growth throughout the region.
Keynote presentations by experts during Cerveza Connect 2026, organized by Cerveceros Latinoamericanos.
Panel Discussions and Roundtables Featuring Members of Cerveceros Latinoamericanos at Cerveza Connect 2026 in Panama
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN ON THE GLOBAL AGENDA · WBA
A key highlight of the event was the presence of Justin Kissinger, CEO of the World Brewing Alliance (WBA), whose participation reaffirms the importance of Latin America and the Caribbean in the global industry dialogue. The groundwork was laid for a renewed CLA–WBA partnership, focused on working together toward a stronger and more sustainable global brewing industry, while aligning the region’s priorities with the sector’s global agenda.
WBA Keynote Address by Justin Kissinger, CEO. Panama, 2026. CervezaConnect 2026 – Annual Meeting of Latin American Brewers.
LA VOZ DEL CARIBE: CARIBBEAN BREWING NETWORK AT THE CENTER OF THE AGENDA
Red Cervecera del Caribe (RCC) — A pillar of CLA governance since 2025. The Caribbean brewing industry is represented in Cerveceros Latinoamericanos through its members:
🍺 Surinamese Brewery — Parbo Beer · Suriname 🍺 Red Stripe · Jamaica 🍺 Heineken Saint Lucia · Saint Lucia 🍺 Balashi Brewery · Aruba 🍺 Banks DIH · Guyana ★ First appearance 🍺 Belize Brewing Company — Belikin · Belize
Members of the Caribbean Beer Network of Latin American Brewers at Cerveza Connect 2026.
BEER CLUB LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: WHERE THE INDUSTRY CONVERTS, CONNECTS, AND CELEBRATES
Cerveceros Latinoamericanos hosted the Latin America and Caribbean Beer Club, an afternoon event featuring a curated selection of beers from the region, open to strategic partners in Panama. They spent the afternoon with Rosmer Jurado, President of the Panama Industrialists’ Union (SIP); representatives from the Panama Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (CCIAP), the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP), the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE), and SUMARSE; the Saber Beber Foundation, a key partner in promoting moderate and responsible drinking.
Attendees at the Cerveza Connect 2026 Beer Club hosted by Cerveceros Latinoamericanos. Panama.
PANAMA: REGIONAL INDUSTRY HUB
Panama’s position as a regional hub for connectivity—logistical, financial, and diplomatic—reflected the spirit of CervezaConnect 2026: an industry that builds bridges and speaks with one voice in the face of global challenges. Heineken Panama, Cervecería Nacional de Panamá, and Cervecería de Nicaragua, the local hosts of the event, exemplify the strength of the Central American brewing industry as the host of this historic gathering.
Panel discussion on the industry in Panama, hosted by Cerveza Connect 2026 of Cerveceros Latinoamericanos.
CervezaConnect 2026 – Annual Meeting of Latin American Brewers.
Want to learn more about how Cerveceros Latinoamericanos is strengthening the regional industry? Contact us or follow us @CervecerosLAT.
About Cerveceros Latinoamericanos
Founded in 1945, Cerveceros Latinoamericanos represents and leads the regional brewing industry, bringing together its member companies: ABInBev, Cervecería Ambev Guatemala, Backus, Balashi Brewery, Banks DIH, Bavaria, Belize Brewing Company, CCU, Cervecería Hondureña, Cervecería Nacional de Ecuador, Cervecería Nacional de Panamá, Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, Compañía Cervecera de Nicaragua, FIFCO, Grupo Modelo, Heineken, La Constancia, and Cervecería Polar, Red Stripe, and Surinaamse Brouwerij — Parbo Bier; along with the following associations: Argentine Beer Industry Chamber (Cerveceros Argentinos), Venezuelan Chamber of Beer Manufacturers (Cerveceros de Venezuela), the Chilean Beer Producers Association (ACECHI), the Mexican Chamber of Beer and Malt (Cerveceros de México), the National Union of the Brazilian Beer Industry (SINDICERV), and the Peruvian Beer Chamber (CCP); covering 24 countries from Mexico to Argentina and throughout the Caribbean.
Revitalized in 2024 under the leadership of Tania Elizabeth Ramos Beltrán as Executive Director, our united network actively promotes the interests of regional brewers, working to foster collaboration and the sustainable growth of the industry.
Operating under the CRECE framework (Regional Brewers: Collaborative and Efficient Strategy), we promote initiatives in public health, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability through our organizational structure, which includes the Board of Directors, the Caribbean Brewers Network (RCC) —a pillar of regional governance since 2025—and Brewers United for Latin America. As an active member of the World Brewers Alliance (WBA) and an affiliate of IARD, we amplify our impact while working together to build a prosperous future for the region’s brewers on the global stage.