Since presenting his credentials to President Ricardo Martinelli on May 15, 2012, Ambassador Farrar has made it known early in his tenure that the private business sector and bi-lateral commerce are top priorities.
The Ambassador took the opportunity to talk about the high priority areas of focus on his political agenda while serving in Panama. Addressing AMCHAM President Luis Laguerre and the Board, Ambassador Farrar said it is paramount to 1) ensure the U.S.-Panama FTA is put into effect by October 1st; 2) promote democratic institutions that lead to sovereign stability and improved social programs; 3) and protect the 40,000+ U.S. citizens living in Panama.
AMCHAM Board members expressed their concern over the insufficiency of current public programs to educate the local workforce and provide enough skilled labor to meet the pace of demand from multinationals seeking highly trained, bi-lingual employees. Ambassador Farrar applauded efforts of AMCHAM’s member companies to collaborate with local universities to help narrow the education gap by training local talent to meet the demand for skilled labor.
The Ambassador’s visit to AMCHAM in the first weeks of his tenure signaled his belief that the private sector is not only a valuable driver of Panama’s economic growth but also a valuable partner in the country’s social progress.