Despite strong growth, the region’s further development faces several structural constraints. The $3.5 billion in investment planned for 2026 remains insufficiently diversified across countries and sectors. Although the region has skilled personnel and exports IT services, investment in its technological base remains limited, constraining the shift toward more sophisticated and higher-income activities.
.

Agriculture also retains significant untapped potential: only 16% of the fruit and vegetables grown in the region are currently processed. In finance, collateral-based lending remains a constraint — since the beginning of the year, 35,000 people have been unable to obtain loans because they lacked collateral or a guarantor. Another untapped source of labor supply is around 3,000 women who are willing to work but remain occupied with childcare. Further development therefore requires not simply more resources, but the removal of barriers that prevent those resources from being used efficiently.