Panama City, August 28 (RHC)-- Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela has announced that he will travel to Cuba on September 9th, heading a business mission to encourage bilateral trade between the two countries.

The mission, which will include Trade and Industries Minister Meliton Arrocha, will consider exchange between Panama's Colon Free Zone and Cuba, as well as visa extension initiatives for Cuban citizens.

The president said that given the thaw of relations between Cuba and the United States, Panama comes to play an important role and must collaborate with facilitating migration mechanisms.

Varela said that after Cuba, he will visit the United States, with a first leg in Philadelphia to attend a Family Congress and later he will travel to New York to attend the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly.