Competitiveness Center of the western region, a growth and development engine for Chiriquí

Entrepreneurial and public institutions and the Panamanian community of the provinces of Chiriquí, Bocas del Toro and the region of Ngäbe Bugle, celebrated the inauguration of the Competitiveness Center of the Western Region (CECOM-RO, for its acronym in Spanish), a private non-profit foundation which promotes productive transformation and competitiveness in the country's western region. The entity promotes technological innovation and investment tools so that agricultural, logistics, and tourism enterprises with greater competitive advantages may improve their productivity and achieve competitiveness for local economic growth and sustainable development in the region.  

The CECOM-RO is promoting international and national investments in infrastructure for port transportation, airports, highways, and logistic networks for agricultural export and tourism, and making them visible in order to promote economic growth, generate employment and income, and achieve social and cultural inclusion in the region by coordinating public and private efforts. 

During the inaugural ceremony, Susana Pinilla, CAF's Director Representative in Panama, reiterated CAF's commitment to drive and promote sconomic and social development in Chiriquí and the western region. She commented, "To become members of the first world, our countries require a deep productive transformation process that increases the productivity of all factors, in order to reduce the technological gap that separates us, and Panama needs to take advantage of all its territory". In addition, she highlighted that the western region has "special conditions and a vast productive wealth", especially Charco Azul, which may become a world class port with a dry logistic channel, and help Panama become the world class logistic hub that Latin America needs. CAF's Director Representative in Panama emphasized "this region has energy potential and farming and tourism advantages that must be used to diversify the country's productive base and energy matrix".   

Inspired by the Visión Chiriquí 2025 (2025 Chiriqui Vision), with the objective of becoming the socio-economic pillar of this region, the Center emerged from an initiative by APEDE, the Chiriqui Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and the Pro-Chiriqui Foundation. The initiative has CAF's support, which, from the start, financed a series of related activities such as the consultancy carried out by Taso de España for CECOM - RO's organizational design and image, the diagnosis and road map for agricultural investments executed by IICA, the study on the World Class Business Model for Puerto Armuelles, which is being carried out by Nathan Enterprise from the United States, the Comprehensive and Sustainable Plan for the Baru District, and the strengthening of the municipalities of David, Baru and the future Tierras Altas.

As special associates, the center has integrated other institutions such as Ciudad del Saber, the National Competitiveness Center, IICA, and several universities, to strengthen their services and contribute to the entrepreneurial and social development of Panama's western region.  

Felipe Ariel Rodriguez, founding member and President of the Executive Board of CECOM-RO, stated, "Chiriquí will have a technical structure which will provide follow-up on public and private projects. This center has short, medium, and long-term plans to support all sectors. 

At the same time, Camilo Brenes, President of Chiriqui's Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry, expressed, "Since the presentation of the Center, it has been established that this socio-economic proposal must reach all the social strata of our region. 

Thus, CAF supports countries to promote the growth of their economies by strengthening their competitive advantages and improving the quality of life of their inhabitants through interventions in favor of productive transformation and diversification, increasing employment, income, and social inclusion.