Montréal, September 5, 2013 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal’s team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montréal, held an executive luncheon today during which Panama’s Minister of Canal Affairs and Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade met with Québec business people. The event, which gave participants a chance to explore business and investment opportunities in Panama, was organized in cooperation with Proinvex, an investment attraction and export promotion agency operating under Panama’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
“Panama is a hub of international trade,” says Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “It is much more than a place of transit for merchandise along its famous canal; it is also a promising business destination for Montréal companies. Panama is an important site for trade and investment, and its financial sector and other business services are booming. This vitality has contributed to solid performance in the country’s economy in recent years, which showed growth of over 10% in 2012.”
“There is no shortage of business opportunities in Panama,” Michel Leblanc says. “Its policy of openness to international trade encourages the presence of multinationals and is attractive to foreign investment. Huge investments are being made in massive infrastructure projects, including widening the canal and modernizing the Tocumen Airport. These projects will make Panama an even more appealing business destination in the decades to come.”
“Montréal businesses with a presence in foreign markets have enjoyed preferred access to the Panamanian market since the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement came into effect in April,” Mr. Leblanc says. “So now the country should rank even higher in their business development strategies for the Central and South American markets.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
About the World Trade Centre Montréal
With the help of its World Trade Montréal experts, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal offers international trade services to the extended business community, with the support of Canada Economic Development.
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Source:
Michelle LLambias Meunier
Advisor, Communications
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4042
mllambias@ccmm.qc.ca
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