Pursuing the vision of growth and development of Panamanian, President Mr. Laurentino Cortizo’s, a Panamanian delegation under the guidance of Mr. Ramon E Martinez, Minister for Commerce and Industries, Republic of Panama, today in its historical Panamanian delegation met at World Trade Centre, Mumbai on October 29 at 3:30 PM.
The program named as Panama Meets India is supported by Panama’s Honorable Ambassador in India, Mr. Ricardo Berna. The delegation of Republic of Panama consisted of Mr. Richard Kilborn – National Investment Director, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Republic of Panama and Punjabi Panamanian Mr. Hardeep Bhullar, Director, Marketing Investment and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Panama.
Ms. Rupa Naik, Senior Director, World Trade Center, Mumbai open the session with her the Welcome remarks followed by presentation on Trade & Investment by Mr. Raj Kumar Sharma, President ILAC.
In his Special address to the meet Mr. Richard Kilborn said that international trade has changed tremendously and is perfected by introduction and application of IT enabled services in each and every field of trade. Indian business can now cater the Latin American region with their products and supplies across central America through Panama as it houses the world’s most advance Port facilities, Trade free zone, SEZ’s, Logistic support facilities, with better shipping containers and supertanker. Due to the advances in transportation, technology and geo-political relations, Indian companies can now maximize and expand their potential in ways that wouldn’t have been possible in the past.
Panama government efforts are supported by monetary and fiscal policies designed to improve the enabling environment. He further added Panama is one of the most stable and fastest growing economies in Latin America.
Mr. Hardeep Bhullar, who have been visiting different parts of India appreciating the economic energy and dynamism spoke on issue pertaing to Investment opportunity, promotion of bilateral relations with due emphasis on Logistics, Financial and Banking relation, IT enabled services, Tourism, Media and Entertainment, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals, business opportunities and policy perspective of Panama. He discussed how Indian companies can also work towards leveraging the opportunities arising from the growth in high demand for IT products and services within the Central American region as Panama is commercial hub of the Central America and how Panama -United States Trade Promotion.
Agreement further gives direct access to market of USA as an investor in Panama. Apart, Panama has Preferential Trade Agreement and / or Free Trade Agreements with almost all the Latin American countries, USA, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile.
The convener and coordinator of this meet, Mr. Prabhakar Sharan, Vice President (Indo Latin America Chamber of Commerce, Panama, Central America) an eminent Educationalist, Entrepreneur, Actor and Producer, who since last 15 years had been significant in developing relation between India & Latin American countries informed that owing to its competitive advantage in the sector, pharmaceutical products have also emerged as one of India’s main exports to LAC, accounting for nearly 3.3 percent of the region’s imports. Some Indian pharma companies have also set up manufacturing units in the region. Besides supplying to the local markets, these units also export to the US and other countries outside the region. Such mutually beneficial arrangements increase revenues for Indian firms, help develop cost-competitive healthcare services in the LAC region, and also lead to export of low-cost generic drugs from the region to other geographies. He further added that Governments of Latin America, including Panama have opened up their markets and reduced import tariffs. They are privatizing their state enterprises. They are according priority to the modernization/improvement of existing infrastructure and creation of new infrastructure, mega-engineering projects, energy projects, and IT & ITES, in which Indian companies have earned international reputation. He also added in Information Technology sector, Indian IT firms are also establishing business partnerships in LAC countries. The region has a huge pool of multi-lingual, cost-effective professionals which Indian companies are leveraging for a near-shore business model. Under this model, Indian companies use the units in the region for providing services to their North American clients for 12 hours from the same time zone, and the remaining 12 hours from India.
Indian companies can work towards leveraging the opportunities arising from the growth in demand for IT products and services within the region. He also added that trade with Panama gain more significance as US Dollar has legally circulated in Panama and in practice, the USD is used in day-to-day transaction, which is also legal tender.
ILACC, Advisor, Mr. Umesh Unnikrishnan made announcement of Upcoming Event in Panama/Costa-Rica. Lastly Vijay G. Kalantri, President –AIAI and Mr. N. K. Mishra Director – ILACC, thanked, Panama’s Honorable Ambassador in India, Mr. Ricardo Berna , Panamanian and Indian business delegates along with Mr. Prashant Kumar Panakaj, Cahirman Deo Bhumi Group and Kamal M. Morarka, Chairman – MVIRDC and for making this meet a successful event. Mr. Prashant Kumar Pankaj has been one of the key people in organizing the visit of Panamanian delegation in India.
——-Wasim Siddique (Fame Media)
रिपब्लिक ऑफ पनामा, के डेलीगेशन की मुलाकात इंडियन बिज़नेस डेलीगेशन से।
पनामा मीट्स इंडिया २०१९।
मिस्टर लौरेंटिनो कॉर्टिजोस (पनामा के प्रेसिडेंट) के डेवलोपमेन्ट एव तरक्की के विज़न के उद्देश्य से एक डेलीगेशन, वहाँ के कॉमर्स एव इंडस्ट्रीज मिनिस्टर मिस्टर रामोन इ मार्टिनेज, के नेतृत्व में २९ ऑक्टोबर को वर्ल्ड ट्रेड सेंटर में भारतीय प्रतिनिधियों से मुलाकात की। इस आयोजन के कन्वेनर एव कोऑर्डिनेटर मिस्टर प्रभाकर शरण (वाईस प्रेसिडेंट, इंडो लैटिन अमेरिका चैम्बर ऑफ कॉमर्स, पनामा, सेंट्रल अमेरिका), थे जो एक प्रतिष्ठित एडुकेशनिलिस्ट, एक्टर एवं निर्माता हैं।
“पनामा मीट्स इंडिया” नामक इस कार्यक्रम को पनामा के, भारत में आदरणीय अम्बेस्डर मिस्टर रिकार्डो बेरना का सहयोग प्राप्त था। इस डेलीगेशन में मिस्टर रिचर्ड किलबोर्न (नेशनल इन्वेस्टमेंट निदेशक), मिनिस्टर ऑफ कॉमर्स एंड इंडस्ट्री (रिपब्लिक ऑफ पनामा) और पंजाबी पनामानियाँ मिस्टर हरदीप भुल्लर (ये पनामा के मिनिस्ट्री ऑफ कॉमर्स एंड इंडस्ट्री में, मार्केटिंग इन्वेस्टमेंट एंड प्रोमोशन के निदेशक हैं) शामिल थे।
कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत वर्ल्ड ट्रेड सेंटर की सीनियर डायरेक्टर मिस रूपा नाइक ने अतिथियों का स्वागत कर किया, जिसके बाद मिस्टर राजकुमार शर्मा (ILAC प्रेसिडेंट) द्वारा ट्रेड एंड इन्वेस्टमेंट पर एक खास प्रेजेंटेशन प्रस्तुत किया गया।
अपने विशेष भाषण में मिस्टर रिचर्ड किलबोर्न ने अंतरराष्ट्रीय व्यापार के बदलते स्वरूप पर रोशनी डालते हुए बताया कि अब हर क्षेत्र के हर विभाग में आई टी का दखल हो चुका है, जिसकी वजह से अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर व्यापार करना आसान हो गया है।
मिस्टर हरदीप भुल्लर जो भारत अक्सर आते रहते हैं, उन्होंने कहा आज इंडिया इकोनॉमिक के लिहाज से काफी तरक्की पर है, और इन बढ़ते फाइनेंसियल एवं बैंकिंग रिलेशन एव आई टी की वजह से अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर व्यापारिक तरक्की होगी।