CE, Panamanian president meet

April 2, 2019

VIP session :

Chief Executive Carrie Lam (second right) meets President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez (second left). The First Lady of Panama Lorena Castillo De Varela (left) and Secretary for Transport & Housing Frank Chan also join the meeting.

Download Video| Transcript

Voiceover:
Chief Executive Carrie Lam met President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez at Government House. Mrs Lam welcomed his visit to officiate at the opening ceremony of the Consulate General of Panama in Hong Kong. 

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:
I am sure the establishment of Panama's Consulate (General) in Hong Kong will help to add impetus to the relationship between Hong Kong and Panama. Although at the moment, the trade volume is not huge, but the growth potential is huge. In 2018, we have seen a 29% growth in merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Panama. And Panama is one of the fastest-growing countries in Latin America.

Voiceover:
Pointing out that Hong Kong is able to play a key role in the growing trade flows and bilateral ties between China and Panama, Mrs Lam also encouraged Panamanian enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's status as an international financial, maritime and trading centre to explore markets in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Mainland and elsewhere in Asia.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam met President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez at Government House today.

Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Varela Rodriguez's visit to Hong Kong to open the Consulate General of Panama in the city.

“I am sure the establishment of Panama's Consulate General in Hong Kong will help to add impetus to the relationship between Hong Kong and Panama,” Mrs Lam said.

“Although at the moment, the trade volume is not huge, but the growth potential is huge. In 2018, we have seen a 29% growth in merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Panama. And Panama is one of the fastest-growing countries in Latin America,” she added.

Mrs Lam said Hong Kong can play a key role in the growing trade flows and bilateral ties between China and Panama.

She encouraged Panamanian enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's status as an international financial, maritime and trading centre to explore markets in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Mainland and elsewhere in Asia.