At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, H.E. Mrs. Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, will pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand as Guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 22 October 2018. 

          On 22 October 2018, the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama will pay a courtesy call on H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, at the Government House followed by bilateral meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Transport of Thailand respectively. In the evening, the Thai Foreign Minister will host a dinner in honour of H.E. Mrs. Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado and her delegation.

          Given that both countries are known as important logistics hubs of Southeast Asia and the Western Hemisphere, this visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss ways and means to better enhance trade and investment. This includes an exchange of information on the benefits and cost effectiveness of the recently completed extension of the Panama Canal where larger ships can pass through resulting in lower costs in the transportation of goods. Moreover, Thailand can learn from Panama’s experience in establishing its special economic zone, Colon Free Zone, which can be applied to Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor Project (EEC). During this visit, the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama will meet with representatives of the Thai private sector at a seminar on trade and investment opportunities in Panama under the topic of “Panama, the great connection.”

          Thailand is pleased that the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama’s visit marks the highest level of visits since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Panama in 1982. This visit takes place after the official visit of H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, to Panama in July 2018, and will help to continue the positive momentum of Thailand – Panama relations.

          H.E. Mrs. Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado has served as the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama since July 2014. She is highly respected for her experience in multilateral diplomacy, especially on issues concerning development including gender equality, where she supported a legislation in Panama mandating the inclusion of at least 30 percent of women on the boards of public institutions.