CAF Reiterates Its Commitment to Sustainable Development in Panama
July 01, 2024
On the occasion of the inauguration of Panama's new president, José Raúl Mulino, the bank reaffirms its commitment to fostering synergy between the public and private sectors, bridging the gaps necessary for the country's sustainable development and inclusive growth.
“‘If Panama does well, the region does well,’” stated Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – during the breakfast event titled “Invest in Panama. Invest in Ibero-America,” held in honor of the inauguration of Panama’s new president, José Raúl Mulino. The multilateral organization welcomed the democratic process as an example for the concert of nations. In his greeting to the new President, Díaz-Granados reiterated the institution’s commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable development in Panama through projects aligned with the country's development plan and CAF's comprehensive strategy.
The event was organized by the bank in strategic collaboration with the Business Council Alliance for Ibero-America (CEAPI), led by its president, Núria Vilanova. It was attended by the new Minister of Environment, Juan Carlos Navarro, who conveyed the newly inaugurated president’s message with a single phrase: “Invest in Panama!” Navarro also reminisced about his positive experience of technical cooperation with CAF years ago when he was the mayor of Panama City.
Díaz-Granados thanked the presence of many members of his team and CAF’s representative in Panama, Lucía Meza, as well as attendees including Michelle Muschett, Director of the Regional Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; Andrés Allmand, Leader of the Ibero-American General Secretariat; Stanley Motta, businessman, philanthropist, and president of SUMARSE-Global Compact Panama; Ignacio Vollmer, CEO of Banco Mercantil; Edgar Chalhoub, CEO of South American Fruits; Manuel Martínez, Board Member of Corporación HMS and AJUSA; and Felipe Ariel Rodríguez, President of the Competitiveness Center of the Central-Western Region, among others.
In the evening, Díaz-Granados concluded his day with a bilateral meeting with the President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, accompanied by some of her team members. The CAF leader used the opportunity to reaffirm the bank’s availability, accessibility to financing, non-reimbursable technical cooperation, and support for projects benefiting the Honduran people.