Panama delegation to cement ties with Liverpool and the Northern Powerhouse

Senior figures representing the government and business sectors of Panama are visiting Merseyside this month to drive trade and investment relationships with Liverpool and the Northern Powerhouse.

The visit will feature a free-to-attend Panama in Liverpool Conference, allowing companies and professionals from across the Northern Powerhouse to meet Panamanian business leaders and hear first hand about the opportunities available for investing in Panama and the wider Latin American market.

The Liverpool City Region LEP has jointly organised the visit with Liverpool John Moore’s University (LJMU) and the Department for International Trade.

After the conference, the delegation will embark on a tour of the City Region’s manufacturing, logistics and education assets, which includes Jaguar Land Rover, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Mersey Gateway Bridge and LJMU.

The group will also see the Port of Liverpool and meet local exporters at the Mersey Maritime Export Club.

The managing director of the Liverpool LEP, Mark Basnett, said: “This is the largest and most senior delegation from Panama ever to have visited Liverpool.

“Their knowledge and expertise of doing business in Panama and Latin America is outstanding and we encourage businesses and professional advisers from right across the region to come and meet with them.”

He continued: “While they are here we will be showing them the City Region’s many strengths and they have a packed itinerary covering maritime, logistics, manufacturing, education and culture.

“Our aim is to help local business to take advantage of this important growing market and to establish a productive commercial relationship between our two regions.”

British Ambassador Ian Collard, who will accompany the delegation, commented: “Panama in Liverpool’ is an exciting opportunity to further reinforce the strong ties between Panama and Liverpool and the northwest of England more generally.

“Following the signing of a sister cities agreement in June 2016, there is much ambition on both sides of the Atlantic to forge closer ties in the maritime and logistics sectors, through new commercial, political and academic ties.”

He added: “I am confident that the conference and visit will provide a solid platform to build relationships for the future.”

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Nick Small, said it is vital for the future of Liverpool economy that the city creates “strong international relations” with emerging markets like Central and South America.

He explained: “The benefits of exploring commercial and educational opportunities with Panama could have a big impact on our maritime and knowledge sectors and I’ve no doubt the visit and conference will be a great success.’’

Panama in Liverpool Conference will take place at Mann Island on Tuesday (October 25).