New Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama

Press Release

A new Minister of Foreign Affairs has been appointed

On December 2nd, 2020, President Laurentino Cortizo appointed Erika Mouynes as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, replacing Dr. Alejandro Ferrer who had been in the role since July 1st, 2019.

Erika Mouynes has bachelor’s degre in Law and Political Science from the University Santa Maria la Antigua in Panama, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Latin American University of Science and Technology, both magna cum laude. She has a Master in Corporate Law from New York University and a Master in International Law from the University of California, Berkley. She also obtained a postgraduate degree in Business and Finance from the University of New York as a Fullbright Fellow.

She has over 10 years of work experience in law, busines and government in both New York and Panama. In New York, she worked for more than a decade in structuring infrastructure projects with multilateral agencies and in complex investment negotiations in European and Latin American financial markets. Between 2013 and 2017 she was the Chief Legal Officer of the Investment Fund with the management of a portfolio of billions of dollars based in New York, Fintech.

During the period 2007 to 2013, she was a Senior Lawyer in Project Finance at the firm Shearman & Sterling, LLP. In Panama, she practiced law in several law firms in the corporate and litigation areas and in 2004 she was appointed as Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries.

In 2019, she was appointed as Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation of the Foreign Ministry. She has been honored with numerous international awards, including the Association of Corporate Counsel's Best Global General Counsel Award in 2015, and is a member of various global outreach boards such as Kangu (Maternal Health in Africa).

Her official biography in spanish can be accessed here.

The original press release in spanish can be accessed here.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alejandro Ferrer, meets with counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Alejandro Ferrer, held a high-level meeting today with the counselor of the United States Department of State, Ulrich Brechbuhl. They discussed cooperation between the two countries on investment, cybersecurity, the fight against money laundering and assistance in the face of the pandemic caused by COVID-19.

This diplomatic exchange included the participation of the Minister for Canal Affairs, Aristides Royo; the Minister of Economy and Finance, Héctor Alexander; the vice chancellor, Federico Alfaro Boyd; the Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, Erika Mouynes; the Deputy Minister of Public Security, Ivor Pitty; as well as that of the Advisor Todd Anderson and the Charge d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Panama, Stewart Tuttle.

As a show of solidarity, the Panamanian Government received from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), 50 advanced ventilators for intensive care that will be sent to the Social Security Fund for their proper distribution. Minister Ferrer thanked the United States for this donation of valuable medical equipment that will help us continue to face the health crisis generated by COVID-19.

Original article in spanish: https://mire.gob.pa/noticias/canciller-ferrer-recibe-a-consejero-brechbuhl/

Visita Oficial a Panamá del Consejero Presidencial de la Seguridad Nacional de EE.UU., Robert O'Brien

COMUNICADO OFICIAL

Para ver y descargar el Memorando de Entendimiento firmado durante esta visita, favor hacer click aquí.

Ambassador Juan De Dianous promotes Investing in Panama at Philadephia

On Wednesday October 23rd, the Ambassador of Panama to the United States of America, H.E. Juan De Dianous, was the keynote speaker at the 79th Annual Membership Meeting of the Pan-American Association of Philadelphia.

In his speech the Ambassador expressed his commitment to strengthen relations between Panama and the United States. He spoke of the many advantages that Panama’s economy has, ranging from its strategic location to its transportation hub. He presented an open invitation to American companies to invest in Panama, with the promise that they will be supported every step of the way by the Administration of President Laurentino Cortizo, always in keeping with transparency and the rule of law.

Panama appoints a New Executive Director for their Segumar Miami Office

Frank Marmol is the new Head of Segumar Miami.

Frank H. Marmol, a Naval Engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in classification societies, statutory certification and services processes, has been appointed the new Executive Director of the representative office of the Panama Maritime Authority in Miami, Florida.

Eng. Marmol until recently was the Principal Surveyor of InterMaritime Group. This new appointment will place Eng. Marmol at the helm of the SEGUMAR office in Miami for the next five years. His predecessor, Eng. Napoleon Smith, has just completed his assignment as the person in charge of the Florida office since June 2017; previously he was in charge of the New York Office, before moving to Miami.Segumar Miami, Florida Office.

The Department of Maritime Safety, known as Segumar, is the Technical Office of the Panamanian Registry; created in 1977 and was originally located in New York, where it dealt with all technical issues for nearly 3 decades, until the late eighties when it was transferred to the Panama Maritime Authority Headquarters in Panama City, Republic of Panama.

Currently, Panama Maritime Authority maintains the SEGUMAR main office in Panama, and has also representative offices located in the main important maritime cities of the world: Miami & Houston (USA); London (UK); Dubai (UAE); Seoul & Busan (Korea); Piraeus (Greece); Shanghai (China); Mumbai (India); Singapore; Tokyo & Imabari (Japan); Istanbul (Turkey) and Manila (Philippines). These offices combined, can offer services to shipowners 24/7. Segumar Offices provide technical support and certification for ships and seafarers related to international maritime conventions and forthcoming regulations for the industry. These include annual safety inspection (ASI), additional surveys for correction of ship deficiencies inspected by PSC or Flag State Administrations, casualty investigations, publications, communications and requirements under Panamanian flag, national and international regulations, issuance and endorsement of certificates and technical enquiries amongst other services.

Each Segumar Regional Office is fully independent and can provide the full technical service to Panamanian ships and managers under the supervision of the head office located in Panama.

Source: https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/panama-appoints-a-new-chief-technical-inspector-executive-director-for-their-segumar-miami-florida-office-usa/

President Nito Cortizo Addresses the United Nations General Assembly

Panama - President Addresses General Debate, 74th Session

Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, President of the Republic of Panama, addressed the general debate of the 74th Session of the General Assembly of the UN (New York, 24 – 30 September 2019).

To watch his speech please visit: http://webtv.un.org/search/panama-president-addresses-general-debate-74th-session/6089495743001/?term=Panama+-+President+addresses+General+Debate+74th+Session&lan=Spanish&sort=date#.XY0Od_VmZBU.twitter

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama is Doctor Alejandro Ferrer. He was sworn in last night by President Laurentino Cortizo and will serve his tenure from 2019-2024. The Minister’s biography is available in Spanish here, and in English below.

Biography

Dr. Alejandro Ferrer was born in Panama on February 1, 1967, he is the son of Enna López de Ferrer and Alejandro Ferrer Stanziola. He is married to Irene Arias Galindo with whom he has two daughters.

He graduated high school from Colegio La Salle and continued his university studies at the Catholic University Santa Maria la Antigua in Panama (USMA), where, in 1990 he graduated with a Bachelor of Law and Political Science, sum cum laude.

In 1992 he obtained a Masters in Law and in 2000, a Doctorate in Law Science at the University of Michigan, as a Fulbright Scholar. He also participated in a course on Global Leadership and Public Policies for the 21st Century at Harvard University.

In 1993 he acted as Legal Advisor to the Adhesion Commission of Panama before the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and in 1994, he became its Deputy Permanent Representative. Between 1998 and 1999 he was a member of the Presidential Commission against Money Laundering, and in the periods 1996-1999 and 2008-2009, he was a member of the Council of Foreign Relations.

Between 1994 and 1995 he served as Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland and Alternate Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations. Between 1995 and 1996, he was a Foreign Trade Advisor at the Embassy of Panama in Washington.

Between 1996 and 1997 he was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

During the period between 2004 and 2008, he occupied the office of Minister of Commerce and Industries. He is a Partner  at the Law Firm Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee, of which he is on leave to occupy this public post.

During his tenure as Minister of Commerce, through appropriate promotion policies, Panama exceeded a billion dollars in exports for the first time. This continued for several years. He also promoted the Multinational Offices Act (Law 41 of 2007) which has attracted more than 150 world-renowned companies to the country, generating thousands of jobs.

In 2008 Dr. Ferrer received the Global Young Leader of the World Economic Forum title and the Integrity Award of the Government Ethics category of the Panamanian Chapter of Transparency International. During his tenure, he was recognized along with the Electoral Tribunal as the most transparent entity by the Pro-Justice Citizen Alliance.

He was president of the Amador Foundation (Museum of Biodiversity) from 2006 to 2013. He is a Central America Leadership Initiative (CALI) fellow.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Today, the new President of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo, was sworn into power by the National Assembly of Panama. He is the 35th President of the Republic and will serve from 2019-2024. His biography is available in Spanish here, and in English below.

Biography

Laurentino Cortizo Cohen was born in Panama City on January 30, 1953. He attended secondary school at the La Salle School in Nicaragua. He graduated from the University of Norwich in Vermont, United States, where he obtained his degree in Business Administration. He holds a Ph.D. in International Commerce and Marketing from the University of Texas.

After he graduated, he held several positions in the Organization of American States. He returned to Panama to manage family businesses and was elected as a deputy of the Republic in two consecutive periods: 1994-1999 and 1999-2004, where he was President of the Legislative Assembly. Between 2004 and 2006, he held the position of Minister of Agricultural Development.

Since 1986, he has exercised his profession as manager of Cortizo Group companies: Panablock, a company that produces construction materials and Hacienda Hermacor, a high genetic livestock company. He is a member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, who nominated him to the presidential candidacy, after winning the primary elections of the party in September 2018. He has the support of the Molirena party. On May 5, 2019, he was elected as President of the Republic of Panama for the period 2019-2024.

The government plan of Laurentino Cortizo Cohen will be based on 4 Pillars and one Star: Education.

The Pillars of the plan are:

1.  Good governance

2. Rule of Law

3. A Competitive economy that creates jobs

4. The fight against poverty and inequality

Official Statement-Lima Group

The governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia, member countries of the Lima Group:

1) Express their concern over the arrival of two Russian military aircraft to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and in this regard reiterate their condemnation of any provocation or military deployment that threatens peace and security in the region.

2) Renew their call to the nations that still maintain cooperative ties with the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro, to help facilitate the search for solutions that open the way to the restoration of democracy and constitutional order in Venezuela.

Official Statement- European Union ratifies that Panama complies with global transparency and fiscal equity standards

Panama welcomes the decision of the Council of Ministers of Economy and Finance of the European Union (ECOFIN), to remove the Republic of Panama from Annex II of the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions in fiscal matters.

The European Union included Panama in December 2017 in this discriminatory list, due to the lack of understanding of the country's tax regimes. In January 2018, after technical and diplomatic efforts, this regional block removed Panama from this classification, moving it to an observation or monitoring list, which recognized that the country was dedicated to completing the legislative reforms needed to adapt the preferential regimes considered pernicious.

The Republic of Panama, through the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Trade and Industry, and Foreign Affairs and the Presidency, worked hand in hand with national institutions such as the Panama-Pacifico Agency, the private sector, and actors involved in the modernization process and adaptation of the legislative framework that governs the Call Centers, the Multinational Companies Headquarters regime, the intellectual property of the City of Knowledge, and the Panama-Pacific special economic area. In addition to pernicious tax regimes, the European Union assessed Panama's progress in terms of transparency and tax cooperation, assessing aspects such as the adoption of the automatic exchange mechanism consistent with Common Reporting Standard objectives, promoted by the OECD Global Forum; adherence to the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, and the Inclusive Framework of the Project on the Erosion of Taxable Bases and the Transfer of Benefits (BEPS).

The Government of the Republic of Panama has undertaken a rigorous process of strengthening its financial platform and international services, within the framework of the High Level Commission for International and Financial Services (CANSIF), in which the public and private sector participate. Thus, the country has managed to adapt to global standards of fiscal equity, ensuring the country's competitiveness.

Panama will continue working hand in hand with the global community to ensure effective mechanisms of fiscal equity and international cooperation, as well as in the fight against money laundering and financing of illicit activities.