President Michel Martelly, has welcomed Tuesday, February 18 his counterpart of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, to the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, as part of a 4-hours state visit (first visit of a Panamanian President in Haiti).

Exchanges between the two men focused on various bilateral issues including migration and commercial exchanges between the two countries. Areas of cooperation were identified in several areas including training for officers of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), the banking system and cultural exchanges.

As part of two agreements, the visa traders Haitian originally issued in Panama, will now be issued at the Embassy of Panama in Haiti and in a short time. Recall that during the visit of President Martelly in Panama February 6, 2012, these fees, following a decree of President Ricardo Martinelli had been reduced to $ 50 instead of U.S. $ 1,000. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4908-haiti-economy-visa-for-panama-less-expensive-it-s-official.html

The Head of the Panamanian State, who was accompanied, among others, by several Panamanian investors, announced the signing of a trade agreement of partial free trade between the two countries, through which some Haitian products will have access to the Panamanian market free of charge. President Martelly that considers Panama as a gateway for Haiti on Central America and South America, expressed the hope that Haiti become a privileged partner of Panama in the Caribbean.

Moreover, President Martinelli also announced that from 1 June 2014, the airline Copa Airlines will increase its flights to Haiti, from 4 to 6 flights weekly.

Beyond these two agreements signed Tuesday, two other agreements are in the process of being signed for the immediate future of relations between the two republics.

At the end of the press conference on Tuesday, the President Martelly presented the Decoration of the National Order of Honor and Merit to the President of the Republic of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli. In return, President Martinelli gave the Chief of the Haitian state, the decoration of the Order of Manuel Amador.

Wednesday, representatives of Haitian and Panamanian private sector have adopted a Joint Declaration on the need for partnership between the two countries. They recommended to their governments to enter into a strategic alliance around the development of maritime logistics through investment, twinning and port cooperation and agreement between the area of ​​free trade CFZ Panama (Colon Free Trade Zone) and Haitian free zones. The sectors of Haitian and Panamanian business also proposed in their declaration, exchange of public services, banking and food and encouraged the creation of a bi-national Joint Commission, responsible for making recommendations to the leaders of both countries to take advantage of new business opportunities.

Grégory Mevs, Co-Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Development and Investment (CCPDEI) already sees the positive benefits, especially in the development of a dynamic partnership in the framework of a tourism and logistics alliance.

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre