The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, during his speech at the MERCOSUR Summit, held on Saturday, December 20, highlighted the competitive advantages that Panama possesses. "We have one of the most dynamic economies in America, which can strengthen integration on the continent," he added. He also stated that for the next meeting of this bloc, he expects the participation of the elected president of Venezuela, Mr. Edmundo González Urrutia.
Before heads of state and government, chancellors, MERCOSUR authorities, and representatives of associated states, Mulino presented Panama as the "premier air hub."
"At this democratic table, there are leaders and representatives of rulers from different ideologies, but we have one thing in common: we all won our elections democratically, and we have the certificates that legally and legitimately back that electoral victory. I consider it a pity that a rich nation, full of human and natural resources like Venezuela, is suspended in this trading block due to its lack of respect for democratic principles. These certificates were validated by the Carter Center and presented to the OAS."
"I wholeheartedly wish that at the next MERCOSUR meeting, we can have the elected president of Venezuela at this table, ending that painful suspension for sister Venezuela, and once again adding that country to this table of development, democracy, freedom, and progress for the entire region," he concluded.
The President also used the meeting to extend four invitations to Panama:
- The CAF Forum, to be held in Panama as a space for dialogue on economic, financial, and regional development.
- The General Assembly of the Organization of American States, where Panama will reaffirm its commitment to democracy and the inter-American system.
- Events celebrating the bicentennial of the Congress of Panama, evoking Simón Bolívar's dream of a united America through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect.
- The fourth and final invitation is to develop an integrated and comprehensive regional security scheme among all MERCOSUR nations to prevent terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and the illegal sale of weapons in our region, as proposed by the host country at the summit in Buenos Aires.
"I am convinced that the best way to fight poverty is by generating wealth, opening the economy, and working for a state that is less bureaucratic and regulatory," said Mulino.
He also referred to the Trade Agreements that Panama has with Central America and the United States, which allow it to be the ideal partner to add value to the raw materials produced by other countries and enter new markets more competitively.
"We have a stable economy, a robust financial system, and we are notably balancing our accounts. In Panama, he reiterated, the electoral certificates from the last presidential elections in Venezuela are safeguarded in the National Bank."
"Between my country and the member and associated countries of MERCOSUR, there are 576 weekly flight frequencies, connecting 42 cities, which also facilitate connectivity with the Caribbean, Central America, and North America," he stated.
The head of state highlighted the logistical strength of the Panama Canal and the ports in constant growth, pointing out that it is public knowledge that two of the four largest ports in Latin America are in Panama, and that the nation is highly competitive in the logistics and transport sector.
During the meeting, which was attended by the presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who received the Panamanian leader with honors in Brasília; Javier Milei (Argentina), Santiago Peña (Paraguay), and Yamandú Orsi (Uruguay), Mulino stated that Panama is not a competitor to the other countries.
"We are a complement to all of you, so that your products can reach the most diverse markets, increasing the competitiveness of foreign trade for all MERCOSUR members," stated the Panamanian ruler before his peers.
The President also deposited his accession document as an Associated State, convinced that integration must advance gradually, orderly, and without trauma, respecting the economic and productive realities of each country.
He also valued the importance of being an Associated State with the largest economic bloc in the hemisphere.
"It is an injustice that the lack of institutionalization and freedom, once again, robs the good people of Venezuela of opportunities," he added.
"All the countries sitting at this table are witnesses to the massive Venezuelan migration, whether for political or economic reasons," he said.
"It is inhumane that one person and one party can decide the freedom of millions and have to expel a large part of the population to be electorally competitive, and even then, lose overwhelmingly," he added.
"We maintain our Investment Grade and the GDP growth has doubled, comparing the first three quarters of 2024 with those of this year," he highlighted.
Among the topics addressed, he also referred to the social investment planned for 2026, allocating 11 billion balboas, which will generate important opportunities for Panamanian workers, for the nation's development, as well as for national companies and for companies from other countries that wish to invest in this icon of world trade, he affirmed.
The President also took the opportunity to refer to the issue of Venezuela again.
