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.

AACCLA Virtual Outlook on the Americas Conference

On February 16, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA) hosted its annual Virtual Outlook on the Americas Conference.

H.E. Erika Mouynes, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, H.E. Rodolfo Solano Quirós, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, and H.E. Roberto Álvarez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, joined Anne McKinney, Executive Vice President for AACCLA, in a conversation on the Alliance for Development in Democracy. Launched in 2021 by the presidents of Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, the Alliance for Development in Democracy is a partnership to advance democracy and economic growth through free markets in their respective countries and beyond. H.E. Erika Mouynes underscored the need to equate democratic governance with progress, particularly economic development and stable growth. She explained that the alliance provides a flexible space for dialogue between governments on how to foster further cooperation within the alliance, with the United States, and with democracies around the world. H.E. Rodolfo Solano Quirós further elaborated on the alliance’s cooperation pillar, citing trilateral synergies around strengthening democratic institutions and working in partnership with the private sector to increase transparency. Lastly, H.E. Roberto Álvarez discussed the alliance’s economic pillar and the importance of securing economic prosperity. He mentioned the alliance’s goal of increasing trade with partners in the hemisphere and the recent establishment of a council on business and investment to advance these efforts.

Click here to watch a recording of the conference.

President Cortizo Cohen highlights Panama's key role in world trade at an IDB Forum

President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), reaffirmed his confidence in Panama. “At the IDB we believe that the possibilities are endless for Panama, this country is not only a global treasure for its beauty and biodiversity, but it is also a hub for the hemisphere and the world to be a logistics and transportation hub.

The President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, highlighted this Thursday morning the potential of Panama as the main logistics center in Latin America at the opening of the high-level multisectoral forum, organized by the National Government , in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The Panamanian president indicated that "Panama offers a unique value proposition as the main logistics center in Latin America in which he highlighted the exceptional connectivity thanks to our geographical position, the Panama Canal and the logistics assets.

"Panama has the best air and maritime connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean, with ports on the coasts of two oceans, a transcontinental railway, airports, logistics parks, special economic zones and free zones," said the Chief Executive during the opening of the forum “Panama: The Center of America and its role in strengthening regional value chains”.

He argued that the country "has played a key role in world trade'', in that sense he said that "we have learned to recognize and appreciate the value of supply chains and the importance of making them more resilient for the benefit of the countries of our region”.

Cortizo Cohen also stated that during his administration he supports nearshoring processes as an essential strategic component for the economic recovery agenda in the post-pandemic stage.

 “We have opted for the creation and promotion of special regimes through the issuance of laws that grant corporate, tax, labor and immigration benefits. As a result, more than 177 multinationals have established offices in our country, which strengthens our competitiveness as a reliable destination for foreign investment”, said Cortizo Cohen.

He highlighted that before the pandemic Panama was one of the fastest growing countries in the region, capturing around 43% of all foreign direct investment.

 In this sense, he maintained that "even though the pandemic caused a strong economic and social impact worldwide, bringing new challenges, today we feel optimistic and trust that we will resume the pace of growth in the coming years."

 As a Government, we will continue to take firm steps to consolidate the stability of our country as a friendly place for business and good investments, he indicated.

 "Panama maintains its firm and determined commitment to collaborate with the strengthening of supply chains and to work for regional development with stability, security, sustainability and respect to expand opportunities for mutual growth in the region," concluded Cortizo Cohen.

Ramón Martínez, Minister of Commerce and Industry, said that "Latin America has a great opportunity ahead and Panama, within the region, is taking concrete actions, fostering constant multilateral and multisectoral dialogue, to position itself as a destination for investments in insurance of supply chains, of strategic industries and as an ally of the nations of the hemisphere that seek to advance prosperity and collective security”,

 The president of the IDB, Mauricio Claver-Carone, reaffirmed his confidence in the country.

 “We are experiencing the largest realignment of global supply chains in history. This opened up a unique opportunity to attract more and better investments, and Panama is in a privileged position to do so. At the IDB we are proud to work with the Government of Panama in organizing the investment forum in 2022, as we promised six months ago. We are making all our financial and technical resources available to attract investment to the country and, together, drive the kind of inclusive and sustainable growth that all Panamanians deserve,” said President Claver-Carone.

 He added that this investment forum demonstrates the capacity of the IDB and the Government to be able to collaborate together to produce concrete results, pointing out that if the country could capture only 1% of the imports that the United States makes from outside the Americas -of products that Panama exports- could generate US$1.9 billion of additional exports.

 “At the IDB we believe that the possibilities are endless for Panama, this country is not only a global treasure for its beauty and biodiversity, but it is also a hub for the hemisphere and the world to be a logistics and transportation hub. The door between the Pacific and the Atlantic”, he limited.

 The forum "Panama: The Center of America and its role in strengthening regional value chains", had a virtual audience of more than 500 participants, most of them CEOs of renowned companies in the continent.

 The event featured panelists from the public and private sectors of the world's leading business consortiums, who with their success stories were able to delve into the country's competitive advantages.

 The intervention of the Panamanian authorities and the representative of the IDB was joined by the panel moderated by Ana Margarita Reyes, coordinator of the Logistics Cabinet of Panama, which was made up of Enrique Aguirre, General Director for the Central America and Caribbean Region of 3M ; Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines; Niurka Montero, General Manager of Dell Technologies – Panama; and Ricaurte Vásquez, CEO/Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

 Likewise, a second panel was developed, made up of Vivian Carles, CEO – Panama of Grupo Bimbo; Juan Fernando Posada, president of P&G Latin America; Aimeé Sentmat de Grimaldo, president of Banistmo; Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Philips Latin America; and Carmen Gisela Vergara, Executive Director of ProPanamá, who acted as moderator. The conclusions of the meeting were given by Rocío Medina Bolívar, IDB representative in Panama.

 

Exports of Panamanian Sea Products are Increasing

Around 21 thousand pounds of Mahi Mahi fish were exported last week by Independent Seafoods, S.A., to the United States, being the second Panamanian company that sends seafood to that destination in less than a week.

"The efforts of our exporters, including Independent Seafoods, SA, have contributed to the growth of exports from the fishing sector, which closed the year 2021 with an increase of 2.6%", reported Albalina de Vallarino, general director of the National Direction of Promotion of Exports of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI).

She noted that Panama exports seafood such as shrimp, fish, and fish fillets to Taiwan (37%), the United States (26%), Denmark (12%), Spain (11%), Italy (7%), France ( 3%), South Africa and Belgium (1%). The remaining percentage is shared between Greece, China, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Curaçao, and Mexico.

Independent Seafoods, S.A., certified with the highest quality

New Panamanian Exporter Places 3k Pounds of Fish to Florida, USA.

The seafood company Elanel, SA, located in the Azuero region (at the middle of the Isthmus of Panama), completed its first export to the US market, sending 3,000 pounds of Mahi Mahi Dorado fish to a client in Florida, reported by the National Direction of Export Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI).

Elías Castillo, Commercial Manager of the company, and Alexis Muñoz, Exports Promoter of the MICI, supervised the process of loading the merchandise, which was identified with the “Panama Exporta” seal, to promote the quality of the national exportable offer.