Gisela Sanchez, elected new president of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) Assembly of Governors elected Costa Rican Ana Gisela Sanchez as the institution’s new president.

Gisela Sanchez was elected this Friday, November 17, becoming the first woman president of CABEI. Her election ended a Honduran dynasty at the head of the principal financial body of the region’s governments.

Costa Rican president Rodrigo Chaves nominated Sanchez; she beat more than 200 candidates from across the region. “This is a triumph for the member countries and a tremendous honor for Costa Rica,” stated President Chaves in a press conference.

It means a lot, and it is a historic moment for our region and the world when a woman comes to lead a multilateral development bank. I assume it with total responsibility and commitment. I am very clear about CABEI’s strengths but also the opportunities for improvement. Gisela Sanchez

“My commitment is to work very hard, but above all, with ethics, integrity, and excellence to turn CABEI into the catalyst for the Central America that we dream of so much: prosperous, equitable, and sustainable,” added Sanchez.

The new CABEI president expressed her commitment, especially to the most vulnerable Central American citizens.

“We are at a turning point in Central America, it is time to carry out a deep and positive transformation of CABEI that allows us to enhance economic prosperity, inclusion, and sustainability in the countries we serve,” declared Chavez.

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration CABEI was founded in 1960 and has been directed mainly by Honduran economists.

The recently appointed president of CABEI is a distinguished engineer acknowledged by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center for her efforts in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a women entrepreneur.

Gisela Sanchez holds a master’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in strategy, finance, and marketing, earned at Northwestern University in Illinois.

During her professional career, Sanchez has been in different leadership positions in companies such as BAC Credomatic, Florida Ice & Farm Co (Fifco), Global Endeavors, Fundación Avina, and Citibank. She additionally held the position of president at the Costa Rican North American Chamber of Commerce.

Former Salvadoran Finance Minister Alejandro Zelaya aimed to become president of CABEI; however, he was excluded from the presidency during the early stages. Life in El Salvador