Panama and India: Old Relations New Ties

Many in India know our country for the Panama Canal, our great treasure, our letter of introduction to the world and a wonder of humanity. But few know that the India-Panama connection dates back to the mid-19th century and is the oldest in the Central American region. Groups of Indians who came to Panama supported the construction of railroads in Panama and later the Panama Canal. India and Panama established diplomatic relations in 1962.

As already known, our country plays a very important role within the international maritime transportation, being the leader of the world's largest merchant fleet with over 8,000 vessels, representing 17% of the world’s fleet. In relation to this, the India-Panama connection continues to connect its people through ships and ports. We gladly say that India represents an important manpower with seafarers for the Panamanian Registry. It is worth mentioning that the number of active Indian seafarers, has grown 45% in the last years. Indian seafarers are on one of the three top nationalities working under our register flag, representing one of the major seafarer supplying nations to the global maritime industry. Hence, being one of the many more connections we share.

- H.E. Ms Yasiel Burillo, Ambassador of Panama to India

Panama sees with optimism the new rise of India as a major player, not just in Asia but around the world, and particularly with a renewed interest in a strategic region like Latin America. The values of our countries based on respect for the rule of law and principles of democracy have paved the way for strengthening bilateral relations. An example of which are the recent peacefully elections held in both, Panama and India. We look forward to deepening our ties in areas like bilateral trade, tourism, IT, research, culture and many other common grounds while Panama keeps being the most growing economy in the region, another element we share with India. We have recently expanded the Panama Canal for the benefit of the world trade, a clear sign of our will to keep being a reliable partner in the worldwide economy, and we invite India to become an active user of one of our most beloved assets. We salute the new government and the authorities of Bharat and wish a mandate full of prosperity for the Indian people

-H.E. Mr Muhamad Talha Hajee (Ambassador of Panama to India)

Recently, Panama signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (OECD), a significant step forward in implementing its commitment to tax transparency and exchange of information in compliance with international standards and the safeguarding of Panama's international services platform. Bilaterally, Panama has signed 16 bilateral Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) and avoidance of double taxation. In this policy context, the country has prepared a Government Strategic Plan (PEG) for 2015-2019, with a focus on enhancing competitiveness and promoting social inclusion in the framework of a sustainable and inclusive development model, alongside the UN Development Goals 2030. Lately, Panama also signed up the Paris Climate Agreement, an action consistent with its foreign policy agenda for sustainable growth and development.

-H.E. Dr. Gilberto Llerena Garcia, Ambassador of Panama to India