CAF present in Panamanian National Competitiveness Forum

(Special, May 25, 2006).- On May 24 the first National Competitiveness Forum, Current situation, strategies and actions opened in Panama City. The event was organized by the National Competitiveness Center. During the opening session, CAF President Enrique García gave a keynote presentation based on the proven experience of the Corporation in these areas.

During his official visit to Panama, García said that, as part of the efforts that Latin America was making to move toward integrated and sustainable development, one of the priority areas on government agendas was to increase the competitiveness of their economies to achieve an efficient productive base as a means of raising the standard of living of their peoples.

In his presentation, García emphasized CAF's commitment to the development agenda of its shareholder countries, where competitiveness is a fundamental factor for achieving equity, stability and growth. Increasing levels of competitiveness contribute to combating the endemic problems of the region: poverty and unemployment, through the provision of tools that permit the less favored sectors to benefit from economic expansion and contribute to generating wealth." For this reason, CAF has been promoting its Competitiveness Program (PAC) in the Andean countries for over six years.

The event, which was opened by President Martín Torrijos, was an opportunity to make headway with the public-private convergence needed for building an Agenda of Action on Competitiveness, for which García committed CAF’s support and accompaniment.

At the end of the session, García said that CAF was interested in actively participating in the financing of the important investment programs being implemented by the Panamanian government. These have a positive impact on the development of the country, contributing to the objective of improving the competitiveness of Panama, facilitating its international participation and offering society increased opportunities. "The Corporation’s mission is to support initiatives linked to the integration of the region and to improving the competitiveness of its partner countries," García added.