2nd Regional Investment Forum shows progress in Panama productive sectors

The main goals of the 2nd Regional Investment for Territorial Development Forum 2018 are to disseminate and promote investment opportunities in Panama’s Western Region, Azuero and Colon, disseminating the potential for regional agricultural, tourism and logistics development and encouraging investment agreements. The Forum served as a meeting space for public and private institutions, national authorities, entrepreneurs, multilateral institutions and investors from Spain, Nicaragua, Mexico and Costa Rica.

The major achievements of the Centers for Regional Competitiveness were also shared during the Forum. These organizations’ goals include developing competitive advantages in key regional productive tasks in the agricultural-industrial, tourism and logistics sectors (maritime/port, airport and road activities); promoting public and private investment in sustainable and inclusive development for each region; identifying investment opportunities specific to the country; and actively participating in public policy design, plans, and regional long-term projects that transcend government changes.

“Here at CAF, we support local organizations in assessing investment, development and inclusion opportunities in the regions of Panama that support growth and large projects in the capital. For this purpose, we promote the strengthening of local skills and their cohesion to achieve regional social capital through partnership, planning, technical training, leadership, governance and economic resources, enabling stable strategic alliances and long-term vision for productive and sustainable development of Panama and its provinces. CAF is joining forces with the state and local private sector to promote integrated territorial development to finance public investments in the Western Region, such as the Master Farmer Plan, the construction of several schools, water treatment plants such as those in Puerto Armuelles and Changuinola, and several local roads. With the help of International Technical Cooperation, we also support the private and public sector in diagnostics and roadmaps that enable investment visibility and attract such investments to the region. We strengthen smart organization initiatives such as cases for the Centers for Regional Competitiveness to provide sustainability to these efforts. The diagnostics and agricultural roadmap of the Azuero Region is being funded in support of CECOM-CA with an eye on the future, in the hopes that the Master Farmer Plan will extend to this region. The information to be shared in this Forum shows the organization’s long journey, efforts and achievements,” said Susana Pinilla, CAF Director-Representative in Panama.

Gerardo Escudero, IICA’s representative in Panama, also commented: “We have included the advances of several regions in the country that have decided to rethink the role of farmers and other important activities in this second edition of the competitiveness and investment forum. International delegations that have expressed interest in taking part in these initiatives will participate, enjoying the opportunities for trade, services and investment in food production in Panama’s domestic markets and throughout the world. The third distinctive feature of these events is that they are backed by thorough processes that ensure conditions for development between the private and public sector, as a single supporting unit. This provides an innovative model to establish partnerships with technical and financial multilateral companies, such as IICA and CAF, as well as the public and private sectors.”

The Western Center for Regional Competitiveness (CECOM-RO) was established in 2014 with steady support by CAF, and is a pioneer in implementing projects. In terms of strengthening the agricultural sector, the center collaborated in the design, official approval and first steps for the implementation of the Master Agricultural Plan in the Western Region, with an estimated private and public investment of USD 557 million over seven years. The center was also critical in the initial design for the Azuero Region’s Master Agricultural Plan, which now includes the participation of over 300 local producers. In the field of urban mobility, CECOM-RO took part in local coordination to design the Comprehensive Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan in the David District (PIMUS), among other achievements.

“The Competitiveness and Logistics Department, as a technical body, is expected to conclude the Forum with important announcements that strengthen and encourage public–private partnerships as a key foundation to implement regional development strategies and special priority projects requiring continuity through changes of government,” said Felipe Ariel Rodríguez, president of the Western Center for Regional Competitiveness, CECOM-RO.

The creation and deployment of the Azuero Competitiveness Center (CECOM-RA) and the Colon Competitiveness Center (CECOM-CO), both established in 2017, along with the creation of the National Network of Competitiveness Centers, are also critical to the spirit of a partnership that has already made important strides for the nation’s productive sector.

New projects underway at the 2nd Competitiveness and Regional Investment Forum include the organization and impending launch of the Competitiveness Centers in Veraguas and Coclé, established by the Regional Competitiveness Centers Network, and their incorporation in the Competitiveness Council with voting rights, chaired by the Minister of the Presidency.

Other topics discussed during the event include the participation of the AGRITECH platform in Murcia, Spain, which explores potential opportunities for agricultural business between Spain and Panama; early results from the implementation of the Master Agricultural Plan led by the Agricultural Development Ministry of Panama; advances in the Agri-Food Hub in Panama, which was designed jointly with the Government of the Netherlands; the incorporation of eco-ethnic tourism and agriculture projects in the Ngäbe-Buglé district, under the Master Agricultural Plan philosophy, among other topics.

This initiative features distinguished guests, such as H.E. Enrique Carles, Minister of Agricultural Development; H.E. Mario Etchelecu, Minister of Housing; Salvador Sánchez, Acting Minister of the Presidency; Néstor González, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade; Miguel Ángel Estribrí, Secretary General of the Competitiveness Council and the Competitiveness and Logistics Department; Gustavo Him, General Manager of the Panama Tourism Authority; José Gómez, Director of the National Customs Authority; H.E. Dirk Janssen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; H.E. Juany Guzmán, Ambassador of Costa Rica; and guests from international companies such as Luis Miguel Peregrín, representative for the public–private platform AgritechMurcia (Spain), and Sergio Roldán, Director of Sistemas Agro APP SA de CV (Mexico). Other members represented the Azuero Competitiveness Center, CECOM-RA; the Colon Competitiveness Center, CECOM-CO; the Colon Free Trade Zone; the Colon Free Zone Users’ Association; the Colon Chamber of Commerce; and the Chambers of Tourism in Colon, Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro, as well as representatives from the Ngäbe-Buglé community, in addition to investors from local and multinational companies.