Panama City, Feb 25 (RHC) Panamanian businessmen from various sectors, particularly pharmaceuticals, today valued the potential for trade and cooperation with Cuba.

As part of the official visit to the isthmus of the island's Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, representatives of free trade zones, financial entities, airlines, logistics, food, goods, and services, among others, identified the opportunities offered in the Caribbean nation.

In a first meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), Malmierca presented the portfolio of foreign investment projects and the exportable offer of the Antillean country.

Among the priorities, he mentioned policies aimed at producing renewable energy and developing agro-industry, tourism, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries.

The geographical position of both nations, the historical ties that unite them, the climate of legal security, and the human capital developed in the Caribbean country allow for the revitalization of existing bilateral agreements and the establishment of new relations.

In this sense, he mentioned areas such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

The Cuban official also explained the obstacles in this path, a consequence of the blockade imposed on the island by the United States for more than six decades.

Malmierca announced the participation of more than 100 Cuban companies in the International Trade, Logistics and Tourism Exposition to be held in Panama from March 28.

He also invited Panamanian companies to have a greater presence in ExpoCaribe, in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba next June; in ExpoAladi 2023, the biggest promotional event held by the Latin American Integration Association, in October; and in the Havana International Fair, in November.

During the forum, the national director of Export Promotion of the MICI, Eric Dormoi, praised Malmierca's visit and the activation of the Administrative Commission of the Economic Complementation Agreement.

He highlighted the updating of the cooperation agreement between Propanama and Procuba, which facilitates direct foreign investment.

In another meeting with entrepreneurs of the pharmaceutical sector, the export director of Biocubafarma, Ailén Díaz, a member of a delegation, offered details of Cuba’s Biotechnological and Pharmaceutical Industries.

The participants praised the production of medicines, equipment, and high-tech services for the improvement of human health, the generation of exportable goods and services, and the delivery of food with advanced technologies.

At that meeting, Panama's Vice Minister of Health, Ivette Berríos, was interested in products for the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, such as Heberprot-P, which favors the healing of this type of ulceration and reduces the risk of amputation.

In another meeting of the delegation with Cuban businessmen living in the isthmus, the attendees ratified the will to support the socio-economic development of the island and to overcome the barriers imposed by Washington's economic, commercial, and financial siege.

The condemnation of that hostile policy was the axis this Friday of the closing of the visitors' agenda in a meeting at the University of Panama with members of the state mission, the National Coordinator of Solidarity with Cuba, trade unions, political and social organizations, as well as the Martiana Association of Cuban Residents in the isthmus. (Source: Prensa Latina).