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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
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                                    FORM 6-K

                        REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
                    PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                          FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2003

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                  BANCO LATINOAMERICANO DE EXPORTACIONES, S.A.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

                           LATIN AMERICAN EXPORT BANK
                 (Translation of Registrant's Name into English)

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                        Calle 50 y Aquilino de la Guardia
                                 Apartado 6-1497
                             El Dorado, Panama City
                               Republic of Panama
              (Address of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

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    (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
                reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F).

                           Form 20-F |X|      Form 40-F |_|

  (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
             contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
        information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under
                     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

                                  Yes |_|     No |X|

      If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g-3-2(b): 82-_______

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                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

      April 30, 2003

                                    BANCO LATINOAMERCIANO DE EXPORTACIONES, S.A.

                                        By:    /s/ Pedro Toll
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                  Pedro Toll
                                               General Manager



                                INDEX OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit 99.(I) - Short Form Press Release dated April 29, 2003, relating to
financial results of BLADEX for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003.

Exhibit 99.(II) - Long Form Press Release dated April 29, 2003, relating to
financial results of BLADEX for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003.