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In another sign that the business world is starting to return to some level of normalcy, three major expos are scheduled for Panama this week. More than 600 regional companies are expected to participate in the events, the Expocomer, Expologística Panamá, and Expoturismo Internacional.

 The new flow of convention is welcome news for Panama, for many reasons. For one, the full-force return of international meetings is important for Panama’s economy, which is so directly linked to international trade. The ability to once again stage large-scale meetings in person, after months of uncertainty and cancellations, is a key step in continuing the economy’s growth curve.

At the same time, the new expos are part of the first wave of conventions to take advantage of the new Amador Convention Center, which has been years in development. After many delays, the convention center is ready to dramatically expand the capital’s convention and meeting business, which will send ripples through the entire economy.

Booking the expos was a “bet” that COVID would subside and the conventions could take place, José Ramón Icaza, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) told La Estrella de Panamá. 

“We bet because we believe in Panama and we want to help not only through our own promotion, but also with concrete actions to position Panama as a center for conventions, fairs, meetings, and regional congresses,” Icaza said.

Icaza emphasized the larger role these conventions play in Panama’s business and communicating what the country has to offer the rest of the world. “These events become the perfect framework to hold serious conversations on the role of Panama in the development of sustainable and safe supply chains through shared production with neighboring States that coincide with our vision of the free market,” he said.

.This year, the expos will be spotlighting ties to the United States, which remains Panama’s main trading partner.

“With this fair, we want to reaffirm the importance of maintaining a win-win trade relationship with the main markets in the region, which are the United States and Latin American countries, which is where our main market is,” said Icaza.