GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING to further strengthen and deepen relations between Barbados and Panama.
Minister of Industry Donville Inniss made this clear on Friday evening, when he received a visit from his Panamanian counterpart, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Meliton Arrocha, at his Baobab Tower, Warrens Office.
Citing the rich history between the two countries, Inniss pointed out they shared a strong link forged by the fact that many Barbadians migrated to that country over 100 years ago to work on the Panama Canal.
Arrocha indicated he would more than welcome the opportunity to collaborate on a number of critical issues that would further enhance relations between the two countries, and thus extended an invitation to the Minister and a team to visit Panama.
Among the possible collaborations, he added, would be utilising Barbados as a destination for Panamanian teachers, public servants and average citizens to receive training in English, instead of sending them to the United Kingdom and the United States, thus forming a partnership with the University of the West Indies.
Also present at the meeting was Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation, Sonia Trotman, who commented that she would like to see more Barbadian products tapping into that market.
Talks also centred on the establishment of an Embassy of Panama in Bridgetown. The Minister said it was his hope that this would become a reality soon, as it would present greater scope for Barbados and the region to engage with Panama.  Â
Other areas of discussion included the recent blacklisting of Barbados by members of the European Union, as well as the establishment of a Bilateral Investment Treaty with Panama. (BGIS)
