DFA’s Working Visit Highlights 50 Years of Philippines-Panama Diplomatic Relations
Panama’s Minister for Culture, H.E. Giselle González Villarrué (right of Panamanian flag) informs the Philippine delegation headed by International Economic Relations Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Uy (second from left of Panamanian flag), of Panama’s readiness to strengthen cultural ties with the Philippines.
PANAMA 15 August 2023 – A two-day visit of the Philippine delegation headed by International Economic Relations Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Uy to Panama from 10-11 August 2023 highlighted 50 years of PH-Panama diplomatic relations as both parties unlocked new areas for bilateral cooperation.
The delegation met with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Director of International Economic Relations Carla Ramirez and Director of International Cooperation Margelia D. Palacios, and discussed possible cooperation in the areas of culture, maritime, agriculture, energy, space, tourism, disaster risk & reduction management, and combating human trafficking. Both sides expressed the desire to implement existing economic agreements and the agreement on scientific and technological cooperation.
Separate visits were made to Panama’s ministries of culture, tourism and aquatic resources to have deeper discussions and explore the possibility of establishing agreements between the Philippines and Panama in these areas. Panama Minister for Culture Giselle González Villarrué recognized that “Filipino audiovisual products are of very high quality, and are shown not only in Latin America, but also on digital platforms such as Netflix.” She emphasized that Panama is very interested in exploring cooperation with the Philippines in capacity-building for the youth in animation, photography, and various areas of theater and musical production.
The delegation also met with officials from the Ministry of Commerce to explore ways to create new opportunities for PH and Panamanian goods, services, and businesses, and further enhance economic ties between two countries.
In a meeting at the Panama Chamber of Commerce, Assistant Secretary Uy invited Panamanian businessmen to invest in the Philippines, highlighting the opportunities presented by the Philippines’ investor-friendly policies and robust economic growth. Mr. Manuel José Paredes, President of Expo Logística Panamá and former President of the Chamber, said that “the Philippines and Panama are a natural match” and that “the Philippines is the logical choice if Panama wants to look for a country to be its gateway to Asia.”
The working visit to Panama is the second leg of the Department’s back-to-back roadshow in selected Latin American countries that include Costa Rica and Mexico. END
Assistant Secretary for International Economic Relations Paul Vincent L. Uy (standing right) hands over to Director of International Economic Relations Carla Ramirez (standing left) the Philippine draft of the proposed Memorandum of Agreement on Academic Cooperation between the Philippine Foreign Service Institute and Panama’s Academia Diplomàtica “Ernesto Castillero Pimentel.”
Panama’s Vice Minister for Tourism Magda Duran (left) and International Economic Relations Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Uy (right) exchange ideas on people-to-people connectivity through tourism.
International Economic Relations Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Uy (second from right) and Secretary General Carlos Castro (center) of Panama’s Authority for Aquatic Resources explore possible areas of cooperation on blue economy between the Philippines and Panama.
Mr. Manuel José Paredes (right), President of Expo Logística Panamá and former President of Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, accepts a token of appreciation from International Economic Relations Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Uy (left).
International Economic Relations Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Uy (left) and officials from Panama’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, Director for Investor Relations Daniel Yau (center) and Director of Foreign Direct Investment Attraction Hardeep Bhullar (right), discuss various ways to expand trade and investment between the Philippines and Panama.