Interactive Session with Delegations from Panama and El Salvador
11 June 2008 at PHD House, New Delhi

The PHD Chamber organized an Interactive Meeting with H.E. Mr. Samuel Lewis Navarro, First Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama along with a delegation from his country comprising of Dr. Jorge Eduardo Ritter, Member of the National Council on Foreign Affairs; Dr. Adolfo Ahumada, Advisor; Ms. Yavel Francis, Advisor; H.E. Mr. Alberto J. Pinzon M., Ambassador of Panama; Mr. Guido Fuentes, Assistant; Mr. Diomedes Carles, Dy. Director of Protocol and a delegation from El Salvador comprising of H.E. Mr. Eduardo Calix Lopez, Vice Minister for International Relations-Integration & Economic Relations; H.E. Ms. Patricia Figueroa Rodriguez,  Ambassador of the Republic of El Salvador to India; Mr. Werner Romero, Chief of Cabinet; Mr. Vladimrio P.V. Novoa, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of El Salvador;  Mr. Javier Enrique Menedez Parra, Director of Immunities and Privileges General Direction Protocol, Mr. Mario Rene Pascassio, Official of Communications Agent, at PHD House on 11 June 2008.

H.E. Mr. Navarro in his presentation projected Panama as the strategic center of the American region. He informed that the services sector contributed 69.2% of their GDP while agriculture and manufacture sectors contributed 10% each. The country has a dollarized economy and has been experiencing sustained economic growth for the last five years with 11.2% economic growth in 2007. He explained the impact of the Panama Canal Expansion Project for the world economy. He invited Indian entrepreneurs to take advantage of the country’s well developed infrastructure and logistic facilities, Colon Free Trade Area and Special Economic Area in Howard all of which have made Panama into an economic hub in the Americas and a trans-shipment base.

H.E Mr. Lopez, in his presentation enumerated the strengths and achievements of their economy which included commercial openness, solid political & economic environment, strategic location and market access, moderate inflation rate, good FDI growth, well developed infrastructure, modern legal system. He advocated formation of a strategic alliance with India for overall development and invited Indian businessmen, specially from textile sector to set up businesses in his country.    

Dr. N.B. Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, gave a Presentation on “Journey of India from a Food Deficient to a Food Surplus Nation” during which he gave statistics relating to agriculture scenario in India. He explained about major policy initiatives of the Government which led to the green revolution and the increase in foodgrain production from 50.82 m. tonnes in 1950-51 to 227.32 m. tonnes in 2007-08.

Mr. Satish Bagrodia, Senior Vice President, PHD Chamber, in his Welcome Address gave a brief overview of the economies of Panama and El Salvador. Mr. Krishan Kalra, Secretary General, PHD Chamber, gave the Introductory Remarks and Mr. Vinod Chandiok, Co-Chairman, International Affairs Committee – Americas, PHD Chamber, proposed the Vote of Thanks. Businessmen, mainly from Agri Business, IT & BPO, Auto, Pharma and Manufacturing sectors participated in the meeting. The Chamber also organised interviews of the heads of the delegations with media.