Panama Boosts Agro-Export to European Markets

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Panama (MICI) toured watermelon and melon exporting plants in the province of Herrera, reinforcing the internationalization of Panamanian products and promoting the sector's competitiveness. Solís also urged new entrepreneurs and producers to continue investing and seeking export markets. During the tour of APSECU para el Mundo S.A. and Agro Export Pacific S.A., the start of the export process of watermelon and melon to the European market, specifically the Netherlands, was highlighted, reflecting the country's ability to meet international quality and logistics standards. "We have products of excellent quality that, through the 'Made in Panama' seal, we seek to promote and position in other countries," he emphasized. According to information presented during the visit, three exporting plants in the region project to send more than 700 containers of watermelon and melon in the next three months, which represents the generation of nearly 3,000 direct jobs, contributing to economic dynamism and the development of nearby communities. "Currently, we export approximately 220 containers, generating between 700 and 800 jobs nationally, from field personnel to transporters and plant workers," he explained. "Our products, watermelon and melon, are cultivated with the effort of Panamanian producers and are of excellent quality, recognized worldwide," he highlighted. Ricardo García Salas, manager of Agro Export Pacific S.A. and Terra Fruta S.A., pointed out that the company has had sustained growth since its founding in 2010. The businessman also highlighted the impact on local job generation, explaining that the agro-export activity creates opportunities both on the farms and in the packing plants. "To every person who has the desire to advance, I say that with effort and dedication we can enter other countries and open new opportunities for our products," he concluded. "That year we exported 26 containers, and 16 years later we are planning to send 300 containers to countries like the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Portugal." The event was attended by the Minister of Agricultural Development (MIDA), Roberto Linares, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, Astrid Ábrego, who highlighted the importance of articulating efforts between the productive sector and state institutions to facilitate access for Panamanian products to international markets, especially those with high added value and job generation potential. Josué Solís, representative of ABSECO para El Mundo, founded in 2018, detailed that they started commercialization at the local level and, with the support of institutions, began agro-exportation. "In our operations, we have 130 collaborators in the plants and 200 in the fields; it is an activity that generates a lot of employment and dynamizes rural communities," he pointed out. Both companies belong to the Group of Non-Traditional Agro-exporters of Panama (GANTRAP).