WEBINAR: Connecting Panama - South Africa

Opportunities in Logistics and Agro

June 15, 2022

With the aim of approaching the South African market and identifying business opportunities, the virtual seminar entitled "Connecting Panama - South Africa, opportunities in logistics and agriculture" was held, with an attendance of 80 people, including important political figures, business networks and South African companies.

The event was organised in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP), the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industries NPC, the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the South Africa - Panama Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

The event was opened by the Deputy Administrator of PROPANAMA, Mr. Diego Ortiz de Zevallos, who was in charge of naming the advantages and opportunities that our country presents. For the year 2021 Panama received a GPI score of 1.92, increasing over the previous year; we have become the No. 1 country in Latin America to start business in the region and the second in costs and favourable times for cross-border trade. In addition to having legal stability for all foreign investments.

This was followed by presentations by Rolando E. Alvarez, representing the Panamanian Association of Cargo Agencies (APAC) and Palesa Philip, CEO of the Durbann Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Deputy Minister of Agricultural Development of Panama, Carlo Rognoni, who gave an interesting presentation to highlight the role of agriculture in Panama and the interest in learning new techniques for our agro-exporters. He showed the quality of our products and their availability in international markets.

H.E. Jorge Sillen, current Panamanian Ambassador to South Africa and the President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Adv. Mtho Xulu, also participated in the event.

Making such connections increases interest in increased trade between the two countries, which in 2006 amounted to around $38 million, according to official figures.

South Africa's exports to the Isthmus amounted to $28.4 million, while Panama exported $9.5 million worth of goods and services to Cape Town.