In the so-called “Latin American Davos”, an event organized by CAF and WIP with the support of PRISA, the Panamanian president advocated for a State that guarantees opportunities without stopping private initiatives, emphasizing innovation, technology and efficiency.
The president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, inaugurated the first edition of the International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean together with Sergio Díaz-Granados, executive president of CAF – development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – and Joseph Oughourlian, president of Grupo PRISA.
Taking as a reference the basic question of the forum: How to resume the path of growth?, Mulino said that “we have the enormous challenge of guaranteeing a present State, because not everything can be at the mercy of the market, but at the same time it must be a State that does not get in the way, that guarantees opportunities, but also that is not a brake on private initiatives.”
During his speech, the head of the Panamanian Executive thanked the initiative of CAF that, “with its vision of strengthening the economies of the countries of the region, kept Panama in mind” to set here the permanent headquarters of the Forum, in order to dialogue and contribute regenerative commercial economic ideas, “marking a milestone in the region.” In addition, the governor recognized the bank as a multilateral reference instance.
“I am convinced that this regional forum is the favorable setting to cultivate greater bonds of friendship, but beyond finding and expanding the mechanisms we have to boost the economy and prosperity of Latin America and the Caribbean,” the president concluded before the standing ovation he received from the audience.
The executive president of CAF, Sergio Díaz-Granados, recapitulated the integrationist history of the region: “Two centuries ago, first in the famous Charter of Jamica and later in the convening of the Amfictionic Congress, Simón Bolívar conceived Panama as the ideal setting for meeting to discuss the highest interests of the region and its relationship with the rest of the world. Today we ratify that vision with our presence. The Bridge of the Americas, which is observed with all its grandeur from this Convention Center, is the story of a success of the so-called collective.
Díaz-Granados said: “We come to Panama to ratify our commitment to the country, to the isthmus, but also to the region; we do it because the isthmus unites geography, but also unites culture and its world-class logistics. At CAF we aspire to become another bridge for the Americas and we are excited about the construction and advancement of our business hub in Panama.”
The opening ceremony also featured the intervention of Joseph Oughourlian, president of the PRISA Group, who wondered “what is needed here? This continent has everything. Here we have all the resources in all areas”; while recalling “that in the financial community, Latin America is recognized as the site of high-quality commodities and human resources”
On its first day, the Forum was attended by exhibitors from 15 countries, regional and world leaders, including: Santiago Peña, President of Paraguay; Mateo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Italy; Helle Thorning Schmidt, former first Minister of Denmark; Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Andrés Allamand, Ibero-American Secretary General, among others.