Minister Henriquez travels to Colombia to begin the process of a trade negotiation
January 13, 2010 by ursula
Filed under Business and Investment
Panama and Colombia initiated the first exploratory meeting for a possible FTA between both countries.
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Press conference when it was announced the removal of the discriminatory measures in the ports of Colombia against imports from the Colon Free Zone. From left to right: Ambassador of Colombia in Panama, Gina Benedetti and Trade and Industry Minister Roberto Henriquez.
To this end, the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Panama, Roberto Henriquez, will travel tomorrow, January 14 to the City of Bogota, along with the Deputy Minister for International Trade Negotiations, Francisco Alvarez de Soto, to meet with Colombian counterpart headed by the Minister of Industry, Turismo y Commerce, Guillermo Plata.
The head of the trade portfolio, Roberto Henríquez explained that this first exploratory meeting with the negotiating teams of both countries are home to a wide exchange on international trade integration policies, the economic development and bilateral experience at regional, hemispheric and globally.
“Panama in Colombia recognizes a major trading partner and therefore we must build a solid and long term for such business relationship, as is a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and orderly, understanding that there are elements that must be present for both negotiation and treaty itself to be viable “said the Minister of Panama.
In that regard, the Minister Henriquez said that Panama expects that Colombia accepts that “we must speak of the significant differences between the productive capacities of both countries, as well as recognized sensitivities in some the Panamanians productive sectors.”
In conclusion, the Panamanian Minister was optimistic about this next draft agenda of international trade integration by the national government, stating that “Panama is an open economy that in its service, must look to international markets to advance a new phase in its economic development and, in this work, the continuing quest for greater and more diversified business integration is key. ”
Article courtesy of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Panama.
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