Yes. I will start with a short statement before I introduce our deputy minister of international trade, Alvarez de Soto.
Members of Parliament, Mr. Chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade, everybody, good afternoon.
It is a distinct honour to present before you information that will be useful in completing the approval process of the free trade agreement between Panama and Canada.
As some of you know, Canada and Panama will have 50 years of diplomatic relations. Just this year, Canada has taken advantage of Panama's geographical position to open important regional departments, such as regional security departments; regional logistics desks, to help the area during natural disasters; and an EDC regional office that will serve Central America and the Caribbean.
Our geographical position is important for these types of ventures, but Panama has more to offer, especially as a commercial partner, once the free trade agreement is finalized.
Panama has a population of about 3.4 million people and one of the largest GDPs per capita in the region, with $7,133 U.S. Our country, as well as Canada, took the necessary precautions to avoid getting hit by the world crisis that most countries encountered. As we speak, proof of this is that Panama had an economic growth of 7.1% in 2008, 7.4% in 2009, and an estimated 6.7% at the end of 2010.
Before I give the floor to our deputy minister, I would like to make a few remarks of a political nature.
Panama is Canada's main trade and economic partner in the Central American region, and most likely in the Caribbean region as well. As such, Panama has come to recognize Canada, in a positive way, to be an undisputed leader in matters of trade in this western hemisphere.
Canada, even in the most difficult recent international financial crisis, when even the most industrialized nations of the world allowed for protectionist ideas to influence their trade policy, pursued a dynamic and aggressive trade negotiation strategy throughout the continent.
The results are evident. Canada is partnering with most nations and thus allowing for preferential market access to be part of its economic reality in the continent. This is of great value.
In this regard, Panama believes that it is equally important that Canada does not forget the positive response it has received from each and every one of those countries that call themselves trade partners with Canada. This is the sort of leadership we refer to.
Our government has put emphasis on this FTA and has assigned our deputy minister, Alvarez de Soto, to present the benefits of this agreement to both nations. Please let me introduce to you, our deputy minister of international trade, His Excellency Francisco Alvarez de Soto.