<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Government of Panama has highlighted the investment opportunities for Spanish companies with interests in this Central American country, especially in sectors such as water, transportation infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism.</strong></h4> During her participation in the "Ibero-American Key Conference Series," organized this past Thursday by the CEOE in Madrid, Roxana Méndez de Obarrio, director of Panama's National Decentralization Authority, reported that one of Panama's priority sectors is water, despite its abundant water resources. Furthermore, in the health sector, the expansion and modernization of hospitals and health centers is being pursued, and in agriculture, there are initiatives to improve agricultural productivity, such as the Potosí Dam and Reservoir Project and the rehabilitation of production roads. Regarding transportation, the Panamanian official reported that railway projects, a new air logistics terminal, and the expansion of the metro line have been launched. In this area, she highlighted the Panama David Train project, which she described as "an investment in national integrity and security" and which will contribute to generating development and employment hubs. In addition, she continued, territorial planning and the restoration of historic centers and routes are being carried out to promote tourism. “A significant impact is needed at the local level so that communities can be integrated into the overall project for the country,” she emphasized. Roxana Méndez de Obarrio also highlighted Panama's role as a transit and transportation country for goods, noting that almost 85% of the country's GDP comes from the commercial, maritime, logistics, and financial activities that take place in the area surrounding the Panama Canal. For his part, the Panamanian ambassador to Spain, Héctor Infante, reported at the closing ceremony that “more than 100 Spanish companies are already established there, creating more than 6,000 direct jobs” and that the State has promoted “an investment of more than $27 million to launch a wide range of projects, from which companies will benefit, especially in infrastructure.” The ambassador also praised the administrative decentralization project launched by the government. According to Infante, the funds that were previously allocated to the different provinces depended exclusively on the central government, and there was no specialized entity for this purpose. Therefore, he continued, it is good news that the National Decentralization Authority is now responsible for ensuring that the funds reach the different provinces and that trade and well-being reach the country. "Decentralization is a dynamic element, which articulates better coordination between the central government and the communities," he stated. <h5><strong>Infrastructure, water and sanitation, tourism, agriculture, and urban development</strong></h5> The event served to showcase the possibilities for cooperation arising from the administrative decentralization process in Panama, especially in sectors such as infrastructure, water and sanitation, waste management, tourism, agriculture, and urban development. During the opening of the meeting, Narciso Casado, Director of Ibero-American Relations at CEOE and Permanent Secretary of CEIB, praised some of the initiatives promoted by the Panamanian government to attract foreign investment, especially in the logistics and tourism sectors. "I am aware of the Colonial Roads of Panama project in this area, which has great potential to generate employment and local development, so I encourage you to present it at the upcoming Tourism Forum in Colombia," he said.
