(Bernama) Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli and his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera held talks here Wednesday over a free trade agreement (FTA), a pact which is crucial to Panama’s entrance to the Pacific Alliance.
During the meeting at the presidential palace, the two leaders agreed to promote bilateral investment, initiate a student exchange programme and reduce trade barriers.
The meeting was very fruitful, said Martinelli, noting that the two countries have forged consensus in bolstering bilateral commercial links and agreed to renegotiate several clauses in their FTA.
Echoing Martinelli’s remarks, Pinera said that the two intend to open their doors to new agricultural products.
“We talked of Panama’s future integration into the Pacific Alliance and securing FTAs can contribute to that goal,” said Pinera, who is on the last stop of his four-nation tour, which has taken him to Canada, the United States and El Salvador.
The two leaders also discussed the current expansion of the maritime facility, which will triple the amount of shipping containers that currently make their way through the Panama Canal.
Panama and Colombia wrapped up talks over the weekend here toward an FTA, a move that could bring Panama closer to its admission to the Pacific Alliance, a regional trade bloc founded by Chile, Mexico, Peru and Colombia.
Martinelli’s administration also wants to make progress on its pending FTA with Mexico.