The Spanish ambassador also showed interest in investing in infrastructure such as the Panama David train

The Spanish ambassador, Guzmán Palacios, indicated that his country supports Panama to get out of the black list of tax havens in which the European Union (EU) insists on maintaining it.

He reiterated that Spain will provide firm support to Panama so that it can turn the page on that situation, reported the EFE agency.

“Spain’s collaboration for Panama to manage to close this matter is full and the Mulino administration knows it,” Palacios said and recalled that precisely in January 2023 the Spanish authorities excluded Panama from their list of non-cooperative countries in tax matters.

“We are going to support what we can, to somehow reverse the situation and that Panama manages to get out of those lists and improve,” he reiterated.

He stressed that the relationship between Panama and Spain goes beyond the issue of government, it has always been optimal and has been emphasized on several occasions.

The attendance of King Felipe VI and the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, at the inauguration of Mulino on July 1, as well as the two-occasion visit to Spain of the Panamanian Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez Acha, show the good level of bilateral relations, the diplomat stressed.

The ambassador admitted that following the announcement of the new Panamanian Administration to start a series of operations and tenders, especially in infrastructure, the “interest of the Spanish company for investment in Panama” has increased.

In fact, Spanish companies have been possessed as candidates for the execution of Mulino’s flagship project, the Panama-David train.

“The experience of Spanish companies at the railway level is optimal,” the ambassador stressed.

Palacios recalled that in the audience of King Philip VI with Mulino on the day of his investiture, the Panamanian side referred to “that experience and showed interest.”

“Spain could participate in the future tender that will be called for the construction of the railway between David and Panama City,” Palacios said.

He said that there have already been contacts with the Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Panama and the National Secretariat of the Railways, in charge of that project under the direction of engineer Henry Faarup, who precisely last month held meetings in Madrid with the Spanish authorities.

“We are working on that line, obviously now it is up to Panama to set the conditions and launch the tender,” said the ambassador.