Trade and integration in regional and global economies are critical to the growth of countries and, increasingly, regional South-South and triangular cooperation is seen as a mechanism for achieving this in a manner that advances the economic aspirations of countries alongside internationally agreed sustainable development goals.
Trade among Latin America, Africa and the Arab countries is rising, but the view is that more could be done, particularly to enhance intra-regional trade in Latin America.
The SALMA Dialogue for Economic Cooperation and Trade 2024 focusing on “South-South and Triangular Cooperation: A Key Vector for Economic Integration and Sustainable Development” was held in Panama City, Panama from August 27 to 30 explored dynamics and potential for greater collaboration and shared growth through South-South and triangular cooperation. Participants focused on sectors and trans-border issues prioritized by the regions (agriculture, banking, health, investment and financial services, transport infrastructure, mobility and connectivity, technology and innovation, green economy, climate change, etc.).
The dialogue was hosted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama, with Foreign Affairs Minister Javier Eduardo Martiner-Acha welcoming participants and opening the forum with a message that underlined the crucial importance of building balanced economic exchanges, strengthening scientific and cultural ties, and anchoring trade targets in the goals of sustainable development that elevate human rights and protect the environment.
The dialogue was co-convened by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Latin America (KAS Adela) and Tunisia-based SALMA Dialogue, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany (H.E. Joachim Schmillen, Ambassador of Germany to Panama, delivering message of solidarity).
The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) joined representatives of governments, private sector and civil society from across regions in the three-day dialogue that identified gaps and opportunities around regional/cross-regional trade, shared knowledge and insights on trends, and explored potential for South-South and triangular cooperation to foster collaboration and lay concrete next steps for collective action. UNOSSC was represented by its Regional Policy Specialist, Minerva Novero-Belec.
Participants included: Paola Di Chiaro, Secretary for the Malvinas, Antarctica and South Atlantic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Argentina; Ana Helena Chacón Echeverría, Former Vice President, Costa Rica; Janaina Tewaney – Lala, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Panama; Pedro Cateriano, Former Prime Minister, Peru; Chad Blackman, Minister of Economic Affairs and Investment, Barbados; Yill Otero, Secretary General, PROPANAMA.GOB, former Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and International Cooperation, Panama; Ángel Villalobos, Senior Advisor, Supply Chain Group, Former Ambassador of Mexico to the WTO, Mexico; Federico Manto, Associate Economic Affairs Officer, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Switzerland; Myriam Elloumi, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, COFICAB Group, Tunisia; Inoue, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, Deputy Chief of the International Trade and Integration Division, ECLAC, Chile; Nader Bhouri Bhoury, TAV Investment, Switzerland; Manuel Albaladejo, Regional Office Representative Cono Sur, UNIDO, Spain; Anis Wahabi, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Tunisia; Dr. Safa Omri, Predapp GmbH-Predictive Applications GmbH, Co-founder, Germany; H.E Hazem Hassan Hanafi, Ambassador to Panama, Egypt; H.E. Ian W., Ambassador to Panama, Barbados.
About SALMA Dialogue: An international programme established to forge South-South and triangular cooperation, as a complement to North-South cooperation, primarily in and between Latin America and Africa in support of sustainable development. It is based in Tunis, Tunisia.
About KAS ADELA: The regional program of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) (“Alliances for Democracy and Development with Latin America (ADELA)” headquartered in Panama City. It aims to build bridges between Latin America and other regions through exchanges on global challenges and forging collaborations on solutions.
