• 6 min de lectura
• 6 min de lectura
The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, accompanied by the First Lady, Maricel Cohen de Mulino, held a meeting this Tuesday with representatives of the most important shipping and maritime services companies in Vietnam, who ratified their support and trust as clients of the Panamanian ship registry due to its stability and backing.
"Vietnam builds what the world consumes. Panama distributes what the world consumes. That is a natural alliance, not a coincidence," was one of President Mulino's forceful messages to the shipping sector of this Asian country.
Vietnam, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, is not only the sixth-largest user of Panama's ship registry with 325 vessels flying the Panamanian flag, but it also ranks 17th among the largest users of the Canal.
In total, more than 47 shipping and maritime sector companies from Vietnam attended the meeting called "An Ocean of Opportunities" with the main participation of President Mulino.
Among these companies interested in learning about the opportunities offered by Panama, the Vietnamese giants stand out: Petrovietnam Transportation Corp., Hoang Huy Shipping Services Ltd., Hoanh Son Group Joint Stock co, Truong Minh International Joint Stock Co., Hik Shipping and Import Export Co., Hai An Container Transport Co. Ltd, New Sun Shipping and Trading Joint Stock Co., Asia Pacific Shipping Co Ltd, Global Pacific Shipping, and Nhat Viet Transportation Corp.
During his speech, the Panamanian president highlighted the important maritime connection between Panama and Vietnam. "Our maritime relationship with Vietnam goes far beyond vessels. More than 25,000 Vietnamese seafarers currently work aboard Panamanian-flagged vessels. Vietnam represents the sixth-largest number of seafarers by country within our fleet," the President explained to the shipping entrepreneurs of the Asian country, which has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
He indicated that Panama offers maritime services and a reliable ship registry or flagging for Vietnamese vessels, backed by the Panamanian Government through the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá and internationally represented through our network of Merchant Marine consulates, technical offices, and regional offices. This is contrary to what the registries he called franchises offer.
"This structure allows us to support our clients around the world with flagging services, technical documentation, issuance of licenses for seafarers, and assistance to the vessels that are part of our fleet. Our Vietnamese clients have that support," Mulino asserted in his first activity upon arriving in Vietnam, one of the fastest-growing developing economies with a prominent role in exports.
He said that for Panama, this is a source of pride. "Our registry not only provides a service to shipowners and contributes to our economy. It has also become a source of opportunities and employment for thousands of Vietnamese families."
He announced that to enhance the importance given to Vietnam, SEGUMAR, a technical service division of the AMP, will establish an office in the Panamanian Merchant Marine consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.
"This new technical presence of the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá (AMP) will improve the services we offer, reduce response times, and provide closer assistance to our clients, Panamanian-flagged vessels, and Vietnamese seafarers," Mulino told Vietnam's maritime sector.
Additionally, he reported that the Panamanian government is evaluating the establishment of a regional office of the Autoridad Marítima de Panamá in the Panamanian Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, "with the purpose of further expanding our service capacity in Vietnam and the region."
President Mulino explained that these decisions respond to a very simple reality: Vietnam is a priority for the Panamanian Merchant Marine. "We want to be closer to you, serve you better, and demonstrate with actions that Panama is a maritime partner you can trust."
Mulino also highlighted in his words the importance of the Panama Canal for maritime connectivity. "The Canal is a central element of the Panamanian logistics platform. Its operation favors the development of ports, maritime services, logistics zones, storage activities, transport, insurance, and other sectors linked to international trade."
He asserted that Panama firmly believes in safe, open, and predictable international maritime trade. In times of uncertainty for the world's main maritime routes, "we must preserve the freedom and safety of navigation and the unobstructed development of legitimate maritime activities."
The President of Panama also addressed the issue of ship detentions by China, indicating that the Panamanian Government addressed this situation directly and through dialogue with Chinese authorities.
"Today I can tell you that we have made progress. The situation has improved considerably, and we are optimistic about the path ahead. Likewise, we have advanced in a maritime instrument that is undergoing internal consultations by China and which we hope will come into force soon," the president said.
He reiterated that the effort made to strengthen the alliance between Panama and Vietnam is not abstract. He announced that conversations have already begun with the Vietnamese group Vingroup and VinFast with the aim of establishing their regional distribution center for electric vehicles and spare parts for all of Latin America and the Caribbean in a free trade zone in Panama.
In addition, President Mulino highlighted that Panama is not only a global logistics platform. Panama has 5 interconnected ports on both oceans, an air hub in America, and also offers preferential access to more than 60 countries from the Colón Free Trade Zone. This is reinforced by another 23 trade agreements and the incorporation into the MERCOSUR bloc of countries, the fifth-largest economy in the world.
He concluded his speech at this event by giving a message of stability and reliability from the Panamanian merchant marine registry. "Panama will continue to be a safe and reliable option for the international maritime industry and, very especially, for our partners and clients in Vietnam. Let's continue navigating this ocean of opportunities, connecting markets and generating prosperity for our peoples," said the President of Panama.
For her part, the Panamanian ambassador and consul in Vietnam, Nubiela Ayala, indicated that the relationship between both countries is very special and fundamental, which has allowed Panama to become a reliable ally and partner of the Vietnamese maritime community.
She said that Panama not only works to maintain this close relationship with Vietnam but that its goal is to strengthen it. This includes continuing to provide an efficient Ship Registry service backed by a State.
Meanwhile, the Canal Minister, José Ramón Icaza, made a presentation on the future vision of the Canal and Panama's positioning as a global logistics platform, with Vietnam being one of the top 20 users of the interoceanic route.
Icaza detailed the strategic investments that the Canal has undertaken under Panamanian hands, including the expansion with a third set of locks and new projects with the Río Indio reservoir and two new port terminals, responding to the needs of world trade for the coming decades with greater efficiency.
At the maritime meeting, President Mulino was also accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez-Acha; Minister Roberto Linares (Agricultural Development); Kristelle Getzler, Secretary of Economic Affairs and Competitiveness of the Presidency, Aurelio Barría Pino, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP), and Juan Antonio Halphen, Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Advisory Council.
