CAF and Chiriquí Chamber of Commerce Sign Agreement to Boost Competitiveness

With a view to fostering socio-economic development in Chiriquí and Panama’s western region, CAF—development bank of Latin America—and the Chiriquí Chamber of Commerce signed a cooperation agreement to enhance productive sectors of this province by boosting competitiveness and underpinning long-term sustainable development.

The agreement will create the Chiriquí and Western Region Competitiveness Center (CECOMCHI), a mechanism for follow-up and ongoing review of the management of Development Plan proposals contained in the provincial strategy called Vision Chiriquí 2025, as part of the Panama’s Country Vision 2025.

Abdel Torres, President of the Chiriquí Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (CAMCHI), stated that the signing of the agreement with CAF is an opportunity that opens the door to sustainable socio-economic development of the province. He also lauded the Chiriquí Competitiveness Center as a long-held desire of its residents, as it will monitor the portfolio of agreed-upon projects that have been prioritized and presented to CAF and the National Government, with their respective list of objectives and goals to meet in the coming years.

In addition, Susana Pinilla, CAF Director-Representative in Panama noted that “by signing this agreement with CAMCHI, important actions will be launched to develop Chiriquí’s economic potential, thanks to the management of the Chiriquí and Western Region Competitiveness Center, a diagnostic study to estimate the production capacity of the agriculture and tourism sector and the formalization of commitment between the Center and the main stakeholders in the region. At CAF we are convinced that these actions will result in the sustainable development of Chiriquí and the western region of the country.”

Meanwhile, Felipe Ariel Rodríguez from Panama’s Association of Business Executives (APEDE) Chiriquí Chapter, noted that the creation of the CECOMCHI is a response to the needs of the province to articulate high potential economic sectors such as agriculture, livestock, agro-industrial, tourism and education, and to promote more coordinated, autonomous and long-term-oriented work. He also stated that CECOMCHI will join the Chirican society, promote ongoing dialogue with the National Government and local governments, and follow up on the implementation of priority public policies to promote synergies with organizations that foster development.

The Chiriquí province in Panama represents a very important axis of action in the national development plan. CAF is currently undertaking several activities in the region, with the aim of fostering growth of production chains of goods and services, in a context of appropriate public policies.