(Panama Digest) Panama promoted itself in Japan today, Thursday, during the one-day Panama Invest Tokyo forum.
The event’s purpose was to frame Panama as a commercial and maritime industry facilitator, strategic logistics hub and global financial center in Latin America for Japanese markets and entrepreneurs.
Panama and Japan’s diplomatic relationship dates back to January 7, 1904. Since then, the relationship has focused around the maritime industry and Japan’s cooperation contributions. Up to 2009, Japan had provided $422.7 million in loans, $45.5 million and $353 million in technical cooperation to Panama, according to Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs statistics.
Panama primarily imports vessels, automobiles, heavy machinery and equipment from Japan, totaling $142.4 million during the first quarter of 2011. First quarter exports from Panama to Japan, totaling $2.3 million, included plants, meat on the bone, fishmeal, frozen bovine tongues, aluminum scraps,vegetables and coffee.
“Remember that the Geisha coffee, served in the Imperial House of Japan, is produced in Panama,”said Jose Pacheco Tejeira, Panama’s Vice Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Tejeira also added that negotiations are underway to bring two Japanese banks to Panama and establish a direct Tokyo-Panama route with an unnamed Japanese airline.
Similar events have already been held Toronto, Sao Paulo, Madrid and New York and is expected to continue on to other major world cities.