The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, held a bilateral meeting with the CEO of A.P. Moller – Maersk, Vincent Clerc, to discuss strategies that allow Maersk to continue supporting Panama’s objectives in strengthening commercial competitiveness and modernizing Panama’s port and logistics infrastructure.
During the meeting, within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Mulino and Clerc explored opportunities to advance sustainable port operations, leverage Panama’s strategic position to improve global connectivity, and offer innovative supply chain solutions that are aligned with Panama’s development priorities.
Vincent Clerc expressed his interest in strengthening the historical relationship that Maersk has with the country and deepening his commitment to the economic development of Panama, particularly in the modernization of port infrastructure and sustainability in logistics operations.
Currently, Maersk is one of the 185 companies established under the Multinational Company Headquarters regime in Panama, which underlines the importance of the company in the national economic landscape. The collaboration between Maersk and Panama has a long history dating back to 1917, when Maersk ships began to transit the Panama Canal. This link was consolidated with the first line transit in 1928 and the first container ship transit in 1975.
The company, with its global experience, would provide innovative solutions in terms of port technologies and process digitization, which would accelerate the efficiency of the supply chain. Panama, being a global logistics hub due to the Panama Canal, constantly needs to modernize its infrastructure, even rail, to maintain its global competitiveness.
The relationship with Maersk, one of the largest transport and logistics companies, strengthens Panama’s connectivity globally. The company has a network of more than 130 countries, which would facilitate Panamanian companies’ access to new international markets and improve the country’s competitiveness in foreign trade. Today, Maersk manages approximately 35% of Panama’s import and export volumes, which highlights its fundamental role in the country’s positioning as a global trade center. With a deeply rooted presence in the national territory, Maersk has two warehouses and about 600 employees in its offices in Panama City and Colón. This operation contributes significantly to Panama’s economic growth and commercial competitiveness.
In this context, Clerc presented options and solutions on how Maersk can continue to collaborate with the Government of Panama to strengthen the logistics infrastructure and enhance the country’s competitiveness in international trade. These initiatives include the optimization of port processes and the use of innovative technologies that will facilitate global trade.
President Mulino was accompanied by the first lady, Maricel Cohen de Mulino, as well as by the ministers of Commerce and Industries and Foreign Affairs, Julio Moltó and Javier Martínez Acha, respectively. The meeting was also attended by the administrator and former administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, Ricaurte Vásquez and Alberto Alemán Zubieta.