Panama's incorporation into the Central American economic integration process also implies its gradual incorporation into the free trade zone. In this framework, on Wednesday (09.03.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX) the first day of the Series of Conferences on Central American Economic Integration and Opportunities for Panama.
The activity is a joint initiative between the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI) of Panama, with the support of the European Union.
The main objective of the conference cycle is to share different benefits and opportunities that Panama has by joining Central American economic integration and taking advantage of the favorable impact of the interregional market.
The event was inaugurated by Ramón Martínez De la Guardia, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Panama, Francois Roudié, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union in El Salvador and to the Integration System (SICA) and Francisco A. Lima Mena, Secretary General of SIECA. Carmen Gisela Vergara, Executive Director of PROPANAMÁ and Carlos Moreno Carmona, Director of Transport, Mobility and Logistics of SIECA, also attended.
“It is our expectation that, through the different presentations, participants can acquire an updated vision of the objectives pursued by this regional integration process, and how our country gradually and flexibly participates in it, promoting opportunities that are of mutual benefit between the participating countries, while ensuring balanced trade flows and protection for our different economic actors,” said the Minister Martinez de la Guardia.
El Secretary General of SIECA, Francisco A. Lima Mena, In his inaugural speech he highlighted that since the beginning of his management at SIECA he has highlighted as one of his main objectives to work to guarantee the full incorporation from Panama to the process of Central American economic integration.
“I am fully convinced that deepening our understanding of the opportunities that the regional market offers to Panama is a very important way to strengthen the economic resilience of this country and to strengthen trade in the region. We are a strategic block, a natural bridge on the American continent,” emphasized Secretary Lima Mena.
He also stressed that during the various conferences, the potential of Central America will be highlighted as a region of great opportunities, a region committed to the qualitative improvement of its logistics performance to reduce its freight distribution costs and increase the competitiveness of its exports. With this focus, Secretary Lima Mena indicated that regional integration allows Central America to face adverse economic situations, such as those that exist today, strengthening resilience and being able to contribute to the generation of decent jobs.
In this regard, Lima Mena said: "Panama will be able to see its business options multiplied and attract more foreign investments, by being part of a Central America with highly efficient intermodal transport systems."
During the conference, Director Vergara spoke about “The Central American market: advantages and opportunities for the Panamanian economy”, while Moreno Carmona spoke about the “Regional Framework Policy on Mobility and Logistics”.
It should be noted that the six member countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) of the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) have agreed to focus their attention on strengthening Central American economic integration and its adaptation to the dynamics of trade in the 21st century, characterized by the preeminence of global value chains.
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