After Meeting with Mulino, Japanese Businessmen Seek to Invest in Panama’s Megaprojects

The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, held a meeting this Monday with representatives of the Japan Business Federation, the main organization of the Japanese private sector, with the aim of strengthening economic relations and opening new investment opportunities in Panama.  During the meeting, both parties agreed to promote the negotiation of an Economic Partnership Agreement between Panama and Japan, as well as explore investments in strategic infrastructure projects being developed in the country.  The Keidanren delegation expressed interest in participating in important initiatives related to the Panama Canal, including:

• The Río Indio multipurpose reservoir.
• The ocean-to-ocean gas pipeline project.
• The development of new ports.

In addition, Japanese businesspeople expressed interest in other infrastructure projects such as:

• The extension of Line 3 of the Panama Metro to Costa Verde.
• The construction of Line 2A of the Panama Metro.
• The modernization of the Cerro Patacón landfill.

Panama Seeks to Consolidate Itself as a Technology Hub

During the meeting, the possibility of promoting Panama as a regional technology hub was also discussed, encouraging the installation of data centers and companies dedicated to the development of artificial intelligence tools.  The Keidanren brings together more than 1,600 companies and 150 industrial associations in Japan, and is one of the main interlocutors of the private sector with the Japanese Government.  Among the companies represented were Sojitz Corporation, All Nippon Airways, Sanrio, Sumitomo Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Corporation, MUFG Bank, Itochu Corporation, Nippon Koei, and Panasonic.

Economic Agreement and Direct Flights

During his speech, President Mulino highlighted the recent signing of an agreement between the aeronautical authorities of both countries, which establishes a framework for the future operation of direct commercial flights between Panama and Tokyo.  For his part, Fujimoto Masayoshi, who led the Japanese delegation and also chairs Sojitz Corporation, highlighted the strategic importance of Panama for the global supply chain and requested progress in signing the economic partnership agreement.  Mulino responded that this agreement also represents a priority for Panama and instructed his ministers to begin the corresponding procedures to advance the negotiations.