For us Panamanians, it's of vital importance to have trade agreements for the development of our country. It's obvious that when we look at Panama, a small country with three million inhabitants, we feel that it's a very small country. But we mustn't forget that a large volume of products goes through Panama, as well as people involved in international trade. So we cannot just measure the potential of Panama based on the population. Panama is an intermodal centre for trade in goods, an intermodal centre for passengers, an intermodal centre for virtual businesses, and this is where the potential of Panama and Panamanians is based. I think Panamanians are creative, and we have devoted ourselves to creating opportunities.
What would be good for us would be to have advantages in trade with Canada. We identify with Canada. Canada has a large area with a small population. We have a small area with a small population, with a large canal with great potential for business. You have marine logistics and large ports; we have a lot of experience in ports. This is where our complementary characteristics come into play. If we both put together this experience, all this expertise.... Well, since we have it, we should do great things together, and I think we can.
Besides, we're two nations that can tolerate the diversity of people from many nations. Panama has welcomed people from many cultures. We are a centre that welcomes people doing business from all over the world, including from Canada. I think we are very similar in that way, and we can complement each other's characteristics and should do business together. I think we're very similar, and we could benefit definitely from our relationship.
Panamanians are hard workers. Panamanians love their country. Panamanians do not emigrate; they go out for business and come back to Panama. So Panamanians are good business partners, and we have proved that we know how to do business. And we always go back to Panama; in other words, we don't leave our country, don't emigrate.
I think that is why we are a good business partner. We know how to do business.