Commercial attributes of Panama presented to members of the California State Assembly

The Minister of Commerce and Industries (MICI), Ramón Martínez met with a delegation of members of the State Assembly of California, United States (USA), within the framework of a work tour they are carrying out in the country.

Assembly members José Medina, Jacqui Irwin, Robert Rivas and Freddie Rodríguez were received by the head of the MICI together with the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Juan Carlos Sosa, and the General Director of Investor Services, Daniel Yau, who provided them with information on the advantages of the country in commercial and tourist matters, due to its air, maritime and land connectivity, the 23 free trade agreements that it maintains in force and its special regimes.

"Panama plays a crucial role in terms of supply chains, so it is important to encourage California companies to move their manufacturing plants to our country and to be able to serve the East Coast," said Minister Martínez.

He recalled that, as part of these efforts, the MICI is also carrying out an agenda with the US State Department to assess the opportunities offered by the nearshoring trend, since the country is promoted as the ideal place to attract manufacturing companies and bring their products closer to the destination market, through the EMMA licensing system.

Among other topics, the MICI authorities presented the benefits of the Bloomberg LATAM Forum that will take place next May, the options that Panama offers for the film sector, as well as the campaign that is being carried out to arouse the interest of international production houses.

Likewise, the choice of Panama as the fifth best country to retire and its recent contributions to Tourism as a Homeport for Norwegian and Royal Caribbean were highlighted.

Within the economic reactivation actions of the government of President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, an aggressive promotional agenda is being developed to attract investments, mainly sustainable, considering that Panama is one of the 3 countries worldwide to be carbon negative. In this sense, it was indicated that energy and food security will be essential issues in the near future, for which initiatives will be proposed that seek to encourage the transfer of knowledge in the field of innovation and agricultural technology since California has extensive experience in this aspect.

For his part, Assemblyman José Medina stated that there is interest on the part of the California State Assembly for the progress of economic recovery and unemployment in the region. Likewise, he said that there are good expectations regarding the Bloomberg Forum in Panama, while emphasizing that there are Californian companies interested in investing in Panamanian territory.

Panama will host LAC FLAVORS 2022

After generating more than B/. 1,100 million in transactions and carrying out more than 19,600 business rounds in the last 11 years, the LAC FLAVORS commercial showcase will move its twelfth edition to Panama, the Minister of Commerce and Industries (MICI), Ramón Martínez, reported Monday, after a meeting with representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The event, which is being held for the first time in the country, promotes the expansion and strengthening of the exchange of goods in the region in the food and beverage sector, through a series of meetings and training for the development of new business opportunities between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), several of them geared towards packaging and export certifications.

“The IDB, within the strategic alliance it maintains with Panama, is an ambassador of good news by considering us the next host of this important event, which has been held in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, and Argentina," he said.

Hundreds of agrifood companies from Latin America and the Caribbean meet annually with buyers from around the world at LAC FLAVORS, organized by the IDB through the ConnectAmericas platform.

PANAMA-UNITED STATES HIGH-LEVEL MEETING

To coordinate the bilateral and regional agenda and the visit of the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken to Panama, the Foreign Minister in charge Marta Gordón, received Serena Hoy, Deputy Secretary for International Affairs of the Department of National Security, Emily Mendrala , Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and Marta Youth , Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

PRESIDENT CORTIZO AND DIRECTOR GENERAL OF FAO CONSOLIDATE JOINT ACTIONS TOWARDS A NEW AGRO-FOOD SYSTEM IN PANAMA

• President Cortizo received FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, who assured that the country can become the new distribution center for food, technology, and medicines for the world, especially in Asia.

• At the meeting, it was agreed that Panama will prepare a proposal to establish an agri-food hub in the country, a plan that will be presented in Rome, Italy in October 2022.

Within the framework of the thirty-seventh Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Director General Qu Dongyu visited Panama, and held an important meeting with President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, this Saturday morning in which it was agreed to promote joint actions that allow advancing and strengthening the country's agri-food system, in the midst of current conflicts and global challenges.

The Chief Executive said that after an important work meeting, it was agreed to develop between the FAO team and the National Government, a proposal to establish an agri-food hub in Panama to distribute food to Asia.

“What we need is to have a well thought out document; We must take the first steps forward because this is a very good idea to strengthen the Panamanian productive sector and boost job creation,” said Cortizo Cohen.

The president added that the proposal will be presented in Rome, next October in the framework of the FAO Agriculture Week, a meeting in which investors from Asia will participate.

The Chief Executive thanked the FAO delegation for the visit and said that for him "this meeting is very important because the world is facing many challenges, I hate to say it, but it is like the perfect storm, we have to be cautious because things are They are complicating the food supply.”

He also noted that Panama is a beacon of democracy and a defender of human rights.

The agenda of the meeting that took place in the Presidency of the Republic focused on topics such as: the problem of food inflation due to the increase in the price of food as a result of the pandemic; and the effects on this same topic of current events in relation to the conflict in Eastern Europe.

For his part, Qu Dongyu, said that Panama has a privileged geographical position and can become the new food, technology and medicine distribution center for the world, especially for Asia.

Both authorities also agreed to join efforts to create an infrastructure that streamlines food distribution logistics in the Latin American and Caribbean region, benefiting from the strategic position of Panama and the Interoceanic Canal.

The Director General of FAO took the opportunity to recognize and congratulate the National Government for "Panama Solidario", an emblematic program at the global level, which assisted the population affected by the pandemic in a time of need, through the transfer of money and food.

Qu Dongyu reiterated his statement about the importance of working to find new and more diverse food suppliers; applauding the efforts of the Government of Panama, through the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), to promote the internal production of some products of the Panamanian basic basket, qualifying this measure as one of the most effective responses to the current reality.

This space for discussion also made it possible to verify the important progress made by the country in relation to the strengthening of the national regulatory framework for family farming and the facilitation of access for these families to new technologies for production, through the sustainable use of natural resources.

Similarly, the implementation of social protection programs of the National Government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic was highlighted, such as: the Panama Solidario and Study Without Hunger programs, which favor the acquisition of locally produced food and the linking of family farming to school feeding.

Finally, the head of the FAO urged the Government of Panama to continue the path towards a consolidated, interministerial and intersectoral strategy, which guarantees food security conditions for the entire population.

President Cortizo Cohen was accompanied by ministers Augusto Valderrama, of Agricultural Development; Ivette Berrío, Health Manager; María Inés Castillo, from Social Development; Milciades Concepción, from Environment; Ramón Martínez, of Commerce and Industries and the Vice Ministers Juan Carlos Sosa, of Commerce and Industries and Ana Luisa Castro, of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was also attended by Ambassador Tomás Duncan, Permanent Representative of Panama to FAO; the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Panama, Cristian Munduate; and a high-level delegation from the FAO that included the deputy director general, Julio Berdegué; the Subregional Coordinator for Mesoamerica and Representative in Panama, Adoniram Sanches, and the Chief Economist and Deputy Director General of the FAO Department of Economic and Social Development, Máximo Torero.

INTERIM FOREIGN MINISTER PRESIDES THE PANAMANIAN DELEGATION AT ADD MEETING WITH THE US

To review the next steps in regional progress, the acting foreign minister, Marta Gordón, chaired the Panamanian delegation at a coordination meeting of the working groups of the Strategic Association of the Alliance for Development in Democracy with the United States.

MINISTER MOUYNES SPECIAL GUEST OF THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AS A REGION IN THE NEW GEOPOLITICAL ORDER

Invited by the Atlantic Council of the United States, representing the region, Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes analyzed, together with Juan González, director of the Western Hemisphere of the National Security Council, and Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Holguin, the challenges and opportunities as a region in the new geopolitical order, to have a joint response and mitigate in a visionary way the main risks that we must face together.

The Atlantic Council is an American think tank in the field of international affairs, favoring Atlanticism, founded in 1961. It manages ten regional centers and functional programs related to international security and global economic prosperity. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

PANAMA, COSTA RICA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC STRENGTHEN THE ALLIANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN DEMOCRACY, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE UNITED STATES

A high-level delegation from Panama traveled to San José, Costa Rica to attend the Presidential Summit of the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD), where Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen signed a joint declaration affirming the principles of political dialogue, cooperation, trade, and investment alongside his counterparts from Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. This Summit, which was also attended by officials from the United States and several multilateral institutions, is the fourth meeting between the presidents of Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic since the three countries formed the Alliance in September 2021 to safeguard democratic institutions and promote economic opportunity for the people of Central America and the Caribbean.

“Together with the private sector, [our countries] seek to generate jobs, promote a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, fight climate change and improve the quality of life for our people”, President Cortizo said following the signing of the joint declaration. The president noted that the United States will be a key partner for the Alliance in this regard and highlighted the creation of an ADD-U.S. Business Council that will bolster trade ties between the countries to promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development.

The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, expressed her strong support for the Alliance for Development in Democracy in a video message delivered during the Summit. “Together, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Panama have outlined an ambitious and a necessary agenda”, Vice President Harris said. “We will continue to count on your leadership to counter corruption, promote gender equality, defend freedom of expression, find solutions for irregular migration, and bolster private sector investment. All of this is focused on one central goal: building a democratic, prosperous, and inclusive future for the people of Central America and the Caribbean.”

During the Summit, the leaders of Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic discussed issues of shared concern to their countries, including the importance of addressing the root causes of irregular migration in the region. Nearly 140,000 migrants traveled through Panama toward the United States in 2021, more than ten times the number of migrants Panama encounters in a typical year. In addition to providing migrants with humanitarian support and medical attention, the Alliance countries are committed to working with the United States and other partners to resolve the factors that drive migrants to leave their homes in the first place. The countries are particularly focused on cooperating with the international community and the government of Haiti to stabilize the political and economic situation in that country.

Commenting on the broad scope of topics discussed during the Summit, Panama’s Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes said, “From migration to the pandemic response, and from the fight against climate change to the fight for gender equality, the greatest challenges facing our region today cannot be addressed by any one country. That is why Panama is doubling down on our cooperation with the United States and international partners – through the Alliance for Development in Democracy and bilaterally – to show that democracy can deliver results.”

During their meeting, President Cortizo and his counterparts reaffirmed the Alliance’s condemnation of the aggression and the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, which the leaders noted is a serious threat to international peace and security and a violation of the Charter of the United Nations. The members of the Alliance reiterated their call for negotiations and diplomatic dialogue to continue, grounded in respect for multilateralism and humanitarian law.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Cortizo revealed that Panama will convene representatives from Central American and Caribbean countries in Panama City on May 3 with the aim of developing a joint proposal for regional economic revitalization, to be presented to the G20, the United Nations and at the Summit of the Americas, among other multilateral forums. The leaders of the Alliance also declared the next Presidential Summit will be held in September 2022 on the margins of the 77th United Nations General Assembly.

Also present at the Summit in San Jose were Héctor Alexander, Panama’s Minister of Economy and Finance; Ramón Martínez, Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industries; and leaders from Panama’s business sector. Representatives from the United States included Jose Fernandez, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment; Brian Nichols, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; and Cynthia Telles, U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica. Officials from regional development banks and multilateral institutions also attended the event, reflecting the important role of financial institutions in supporting the region’s economic recovery and sustainable development.

Regional Conference Regarding Migration (CRM) Extraordinary Declaration

The Deputy Ministers and Directors of Migration and authorities of the government of Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, All countries that are members of the Regional Conference Regarding Migration (CRM), gathering in Panama City, on the occasion of the visit of the countryside in the providence of Darien the 24th of March and the plenary meeting created the 25th of March, 2022, they have approved the following declaration:

“DECLARATION OF DARIEN”

The CRM recognized that the irregular flows of migration and the forced displacement in the region are complications that have increased significantly with economic, sociopolitical, and environmental consequences that have generated mixed flows that include, among others, economic migrant populations in vulnerable situations such as children, adolescents, women and elderly, and those who seek international protection.

The CRM began to become preoccupied for the high risks that migrates faced, asylum seekers and refugees in the actual context, including the possibility to be victims of organized crime, violence and insecurity in their trajectory.

We would like to reiterate the importance and our commitment to promote and reinforce effective immigration policies and stronger systems that help and protect in the region, respecting human rights of all migrants and facilitating access for international protection.

We would like to reaffirm the principals and established approach in the CRM Charter, especially the principals of Shared Responsibility, rule of law, human rights and international cooperation, we recommend the implementation of the following actions:

• Coordinate with the civil society organizations and international organizations the elaboration of the roadmap at the regional level, with points and objectives in common with short and medium terms which include the possibility to provide humanitarian assistance, international protection and alternative forms of complementary protection and other forms of protection, regular migration mechanisms and border management.

• Promote and maintain dialogue with countries of origin, transit and destination for a joint approach to extra-regional and intra-regional flows.

• Expand cooperation in international development to create economic opportunities in communities of origin, with short term impact, to address the main causes of migration.

• Address the extra-regional migration as a permanent theme in the dialogue with the South American Conference on Migration (CSM), as part of a joint agenda

• Carry out campaigns on the risks of irregular migration, particularly the danger posed by the Darien region, both due to natural inclement weather and organized crime, with the goal to discourage transit through that route

• Support and work together with the host communities of these flows

• Assess Panama´s proposal for the implementation at the regional level of the training course based on the model of the Humanitarian Border Security Unit, with the support of the IOM and other international organizations, aimed at representatives of border security and migration institutions.

• Maximize visibility and access to regular migration pathways throughout the region for protection, employment, and family reunification

• Strengthen the exchange of information and coordination for joint operations, investigations, and criminal prosecution to monitor and combat the crimes of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.

• Coordinate with the Comprehensive Regional Framework for Protection and Solutions (MIRPS), as appropriate, the articulation of synergies in addressing these flows.

We appreciate the support and joint work with the observer organizations of the RCM and with civil society organizations, especially those present in the Darien area, which work in the protection and assistance to the populations that move on this route.

We recognize the Government of Panama for the efforts and work it carries out in coordination with the United Nations System, other international organizations and civil society for the integral and humanitarian attention of populations in international mobility.

The RCM reaffirms its commitment to promote regional actions to strengthen effective migration governance and protect the human rights of people who transit through our territories, especially those in situations of vulnerability. It recognizes that, as stated in the Global Compact on Migration, only through safe, orderly and regular migration will the region optimize the benefits that regular migration cycles imply for countries of origin, transit, destination and return and for migrants themselve.

MINISTER MOUYNES MEETS WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE AND CONGRESSMEN ABOUT MIGRATION AND THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY IN LATIN AMERICA

Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Erika Mouynes, concluded a two-day visit to Washington, D.C. which included meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and senior members of Congress on the state of democracy in Latin America, migration, and other issues of mutual interest for Panama and the United States. Minister Mouynes also communicated to Secretary Blinken that Panama will send a delegation to participate in the IX Summit of the Americas, to be hosted by the United States in Los Angeles this June.  

Minister Mouynes highlighted Panama’s leadership in the Alliance for Development in Democracy – a trilateral partnership between Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, three of the region’s most stable and open democracies – to strengthen democratic institutions and promote prosperity, economic revival, and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Together, these countries represent the third most important trading partner for the United States in Latin America, only surpassed by Mexico and Brazil. The Minister was joined in this meeting by her counterparts Rodolfo Solano and Roberto Álvarez, from Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, respectively. The Alliance will host its fourth presidential summit on March 21 in Costa Rica and has invited the United States to attend the event.  

“In these difficult times, cross-border challenges from migration to climate change are straining democratic institutions”, Minister Mouynes said. “International problems demand multilateral solutions. Rather than turning inward, the Alliance for Development in Democracy reflects Panama’s decision – and that of our partners – to double down on multilateral cooperation to show that democracy can deliver results on the critical issues facing our countries today.” 

“Coordinating with strategic partners like the United States is an important part of this effort, and I am grateful for the support President Biden, Secretary Blinken, and members of Congress have expressed for the Alliance”, the Minister added.  

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic also reiterated the Alliance’s position in condemning the use of force by the Russian Federation to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In a joint statement to the United Nations on behalf of the three countries, Panama emphasized that all efforts must be made to enable the rapid, safe and unhindered distribution of humanitarian assistance to those in need in Ukraine, especially children. The members of the Alliance, united in their respect for democratic values, international law, and the Charter of the United Nations, affirmed their conviction that multilateral dialogue constitutes the only guarantee for a lasting solution to this conflict. 

Minister Mouynes and her counterparts conveyed this information to Secretary Blinken and provided him with an update on how their countries are collaborating to manage other pressing challenges, including irregular migration. As a result of coordinated efforts to dismantle criminal smuggling networks and address other root causes of migration through Central America, the average daily number of migrants passing through Panama fell from 2,461 in August to 140 today. The three countries continue to work closely with the United States and international relief organizations to stabilize the political and economic situation in Haiti, which will be vital to reducing irregular migration numbers in the region long-term.  

Also during her visit to Washington, Foreign Minister Mouynes met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Juan Gonzalez, as well as members of Congress including Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) about the state of bilateral ties and opportunities for future collaboration in areas such as sustainable development, environmental conservation, and gender equality. This builds on the more than 60 meetings the Foreign Minister has held with senior members of Congress and the Biden administration, reflecting the strong state of the U.S.-Panama partnership. 

PANAMA CONCLUDES INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE SUMMIT WITH CALL FOR JUST AND INCLUSIVE ENERGY TRANSITION IN THE AMERICAS

On Friday, February 11, Panama concluded the Fifth Ministerial Meeting on Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, an international summit hosted by Panama in partnership with the Organization of American States to facilitate regional cooperation on the critical energy and climate challenges facing the Western Hemisphere. Held from February 10-11 under the theme of “Promoting Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions”, the event welcomed government and business leaders from 33 countries – including U.S. Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry and International Energy Agency Director Fatih Birol – for wide-ranging discussions on ensuring equitable access to clean energy for the region.

“Panama is proud to welcome the international community to determine the path forward on achieving sustainable energy transitions that benefit all”, said Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen. “As one of the world’s only three carbon negative countries, Panama has long been a leader in environmental conservation. Now, we are doubling down on our commitment to ensure equal access to the green technologies which will power the future. I look forward to working closely with our international partners on developing energy transition roadmaps that leave no one behind.”

As a U.N. Global Champion for energy, Panama is committed to facilitating a green energy transition that maximizes progress on poverty reduction, job creation, and responsible consumption in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. For instance, Panama’s government approved in 2020 a $350 million policy roadmap to ensure universal electricity access within the country by the end of the decade, with a particular focus on reaching rural and indigenous communities. The country has also launched a “Women in the Energy Transition” strategy to empower women’s participation within the energy sector. Panama aims to use these and other investments in the energy transition to fuel its post-pandemic economic recovery.

A recent United Nations Environment Programme report found that prioritizing a green recovery could enable Panama to create 15,000 net additional jobs by 2024 and reduce fossil fuel subsidies by $500 million. “Investing in just and inclusive energy transitions isn’t only the right thing to do – it also makes economic sense”, said Panama’s Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes. “Panama has made gender equality a top priority, and we view the renewable energy transition as an opportunity to empower women’s participation and leadership in these sectors that are being built from the ground up.”

In his remarks during the ECPA Ministerial Meeting, U.S. Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry thanked the Government of Panama for hosting the event, outlined global climate progress coming out of COP26, and emphasized the important role of young people in holding leaders accountable to climate commitments moving forward. “I want to thank President Cortizo for his leadership and for what the Government of Panama is doing”, Special Envoy Kerry said, noting that Panama sent the youngest negotiating team to COP26 in Glasgow last year. “Young people are driving this movement. If we’re successful at this effort, it’s going to be because young people become part of it. They hold people accountable.”

Over the course of the two-day meeting, participants discussed a wide range of topics related to inclusive energy transitions, including panels focused on fast-tracking private investment to achieve decarbonization goals, achieving universal electricity access across the region by 2030, and reconfiguring supply chains for a low-carbon future, among other topics. Attendees validated the 2022-2024 ECPA Action Plan, which calls for the creation of a live intergovernmental platform within the ECPA Secretariat to spur international cooperation on energy transition initiatives. The sessions held during the ECPA will also inform energy-oriented discussions among heads of state at the 9th Summit of the Americas, to be held in Los Angeles in June.

Also present at the ECPA Ministerial Meeting were Dr. Jorge Rivera Staff, Panama’s National Energy Secretary; H.E. Luis Almagro, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States; Benigno López, Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge at the Inter-American Development Bank; H.E. Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; and Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister of Environment and Climate Action of Portugal, among other notable speakers. You can view Foreign Minister Mouynes’ address to the ECPA here.