Panama’s President, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, participated in the inauguration of the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Latin America, held in Panama with the attendance of Latin American and global leaders from May 18 to May 19.

Cortizo Cohen thanked Bloomberg executives for choosing Panama as the venue for the first meeting of the New Economy Gateway outside Asia.

The chief executive said that it is "an honor" for Panama to hold this forum in the country for the first time, addressing issues that affect the world and Panama, such as the pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine, climate change and social inequality.

The Bloomberg forum brought together 83% of the world's gross domestic product (GDP), making it an extraordinary opportunity to promote foreign investment and boost Panama's economic reactivation.

Bloomberg New Economy Gateway reunited more than 200 guests, including high-level corporate and government leaders, who exchanged initiatives on the future of the region and learnt first-hand about Panama’s competitive advantages for investment, logistics and tourism, among other aspects.

Those public and private sectors’ leaders, talked about the economic future of Latin America as the region rebuilds from the devastation of Covid-19. Also on the agenda were the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on developing nations and others related to the organization's editorial pillars: trade, finance, health, cities, and climate change.

The day began with a keynote speech by Bloomberg founder Michael R. Bloomberg, who reviewed the consequences for the world of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Financial Pillar presentations were followed by Marko Papic, partner and chief strategist of Clocktower Group; Mauricio Claver-Carone, president of the Inter-American Development Bank; Shannon O'Neil, vice president of the Council on Foreign Relations; Stanley Motta, president and director of Motta International; and Michelle Bachelet Jeria, former president of Chile and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

President Laurentino Cortizo offered a welcome dinner at the Los Tamarindos Hall of the Presidential Palace, to all the Latin American and global leaders who participated in the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Latin America.

The dinner was attended by: Peter Grauer, Chairman of the Board of Bloomberg L.P.; Luis Carlos Sarmiento Gutiérrez, CEO of Grupo Aval; Stanley Motta, CEO of Motta International; Mauricio Ramos, CEO of Millicom; Adrienne Arsht, Executive Vice President of The Atlantic Council; former Panamanian major leaguer Mariano Rivera; Scott Havens, CEO of Bloomberg Media; Holly Lemkau, Director of the Bloomberg New Economy Forum; and Erik Schatzker, Editorial Director of Bloomberg New Economy, among others.

President Cortizo Cohen was accompanied by the Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes; Minister of Commerce and Vice Minister of Commerce and Industry Ramón Martínez and Juan Carlos Sosa, respectively; Minister of Economy and Finance Héctor Alexander; and Minister Counselor for Private Investment Facilitation José Alejandro Rojas-Pardini.