Panama’s Vice President Speaks of a Digital Hub at Expologística 2019

By José Carlos de Santiago

Panama’s Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo highlighted the combined effort of the public and private sectors as the most effective way to rekindle the economy and seek greater opportunities for Panamanians. He said that when opening Tuesday the Expologística 2019 event.

The fair, which takes place at the Atlapa Convention Center on December 10 and 11, is the result of the joint effort of the National Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT), and the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP).

Carrizo declared EXPOLOGISTICA officially inaugurated on behalf of the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo.

“All these initiatives seek to underscore what we Panamanians are, beyond what the geographical position is, but a country of noble and good people willing to move the country forward, seek better opportunities for all Panamanians, but especially those most in need,” Mr. Carrizo was quoted as saying.

After his opening remarks, the vice president agreed to answer some questions for Caribbean News Digital.

Is Panama strengthening as a logistics hub?

The Hub of Hubs, the destination that connects the world; not only there is talk of a logistic hub, but also of a hub of added value. There is talk of a digital hub and they all are efforts focused on revitalizing this economy, a country economically and financially stable with sustainable growth, with a new administration that has ordered public finances. We have everything we need to get started and transform the country into the country we deserve.

How important is importing for Panama?

Importing is highly important, but above all, exporting. What we can export to the world is very important.

For example, in crops and agricultural staples, with this campaign “Consume Your Things with Pride”, in seeing how we can strengthen the capacities that our producers have in exporting, and it is not only about national products, but also about logistics services, always in compliance with the regulations that keep us in global competitiveness.

Is the technological hub going to have a special investment and a place for technology?

Make no mistakes about it. The digital hub is also part of that technological hub, of that innovation hub, taking advantage of neutrality treaties that are recognized by more than 80 countries worldwide, as well as the seven fiber optic cables that pass through the Panama Canal and whose information the State has stripped of its use by these neutrality agreements.

We have recently heard companies like Google say that there is no digital hub, a technological hub better than Panama’s.