Two Latin American and Caribbean nations, Suriname and Panama, have laid the groundwork for deeper economic collaboration during a working visit by a Surinamese delegation to Panama’s investment and trade promotion body, ProPanama. The delegation was led by Melvin Bouva, Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation, who traveled to the country to explore new partnership opportunities across trade, logistics, cross-border investment, and special economic zone development. The entire visit was centered on strengthening bilateral economic ties and sharing specialized knowledge around trade expansion and logistics infrastructure growth. Minister Bouva opened discussions by highlighting Panama’s unique strategic value as a leading regional trade and logistics hub. For Suriname, which is currently entering a transformative new economic phase driven by the rapid expansion of its offshore oil and gas sector, Panama’s decades of experience in managing trade and logistics hubs offers critical, actionable insights, Bouva noted. “Panama’s progress over the years offers valuable lessons for nations like Suriname that are looking to expand their own trade-focused economic sectors,” the minister stated during the visit. A core highlight of the delegation’s itinerary was a guided tour and in-depth briefing at the Colón Free Trade Zone, one of the largest free trade zones in the entire Latin American and Caribbean region. During the stop, Suriname’s delegation gained first-hand insight into how the zone is organized, its advanced logistics infrastructure, and the strategies Panama has used to attract consistent foreign direct investment. Stretching across more than 1,064 hectares of land, the Colón Free Trade Zone currently has approximately 280 hectares of undeveloped space reserved for future expansion, and offers participating businesses a wide range of tax and customs incentives to operate from the location. Talks between the two sides also included a focus on building a formal partnership between ProPanama and the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA), Suriname’s national trade and investment promotion body. According to Suriname’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation, the proposed partnership will prioritize four core areas: cross-institutional knowledge sharing, joint development of special economic zones, and collective efforts to boost two-way trade and cross-border investment between the two nations. This working visit aligns with both countries’ broader long-term strategy to expand and deepen their economic relations. The ministry emphasized that the discussions with ProPanama leadership and the on-site visit to the Colón Free Trade Zone mark a tangible, concrete step toward closer collaboration that will unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors based in both Suriname and Panama. Going forward, both sides are expected to continue working through their respective trade agencies to turn the initial agreements from the visit into actionable projects that deliver mutual economic growth.
Suriname en Panama verkennen intensievere samenwerking op handel en investeringen
