The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) has chosen entrepreneur Aurelio Barría Pino as its president for the 2026-2027 period. This decision was made during the First Ordinary General Meeting of the guild. Barría Pino will formally assume the position on April 8, after being proclaimed the winner by the Election Board, chaired by Irvin Halman. In the same process, the main and alternate directors who will make up the new board of directors of the business guild were also chosen. In his first words as elected president, Barría Pino thanked the support of the membership and noted that the new board of directors will face a complex period for the business sector. "I want to thank you for the effort made and for taking on the commitment in such a challenging year," he said. He also announced that he will seek to strengthen support for entrepreneurship through the guild's access to technical knowledge and the incorporation of new entrepreneurs into the Chamber. The elected president also stated that close follow-up will be given to the companies affiliated with the guild to identify their needs and to articulate actions that increase the value and relevance of the CCIAP for its members. Barría Pino currently serves as president of the Exhibitions and Events Commission of the CCIAP for the 2025-2026 period and as first vice president of the guild. A member of the Chamber of Commerce since 1974, he has over 20 years of experience in the commercial and retail areas of multinational corporations and holds studies in marketing and business administration. His career within the guild includes positions as alternate director, main director of Group 5 Motor Vehicles and Heavy Equipment, and general manager of Inversiones Barría, S.A. (INBASA), a company dedicated to the distribution of lubricants and automotive products. He has also been a board advisor, secretary, and vice president in different periods. Furthermore, he is a member of Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO), a global network of entrepreneurs aimed at promoting business growth through peer-to-peer connection. The CCIAP Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 period will be made up of 32 people: the president, 15 main directors with their respective alternates, and the outgoing president, who will assume the role of immediate past president. "We face challenges that will test our ability as guild directors, entrepreneurs, and responsible citizens," he expressed. Among the lines of work proposed for his management, Barría Pino mentioned strengthening the guild's purpose of promoting, connecting, and defending the private sector, as well as boosting commercial missions aimed at attracting investment and facilitating the exploration of new international markets for Panamanian entrepreneurs. Regarding employment, he indicated that the business sector is awaiting the Internships Law, an initiative he considers key to facilitating labor insertion.
