We understand the rise of India as a power: Panama FM Javier Vásquez

New Delhi

Panama's Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez has emphasised the growing stature of India and pointed to how his country plans to increase ties with New Delhi. The plans include soon announcing Panama's ambassador to the country and opening a visa processing office in the Indian capital.

The foreign minister hoped to get Indian investment, see the establishment of the Indian educational institute as well as Indian Pharma manufacturing plants in his country.

Also watch | WION Exclusive | 'We understand the rise of India as a power': Panama FM Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez

He explained, "We understand that we need to lower the cost of pharma for Panamanians, and India could be a very important player to solve that problem".

The foreign minister also spoke on his country's stance on the Venezuela elections, the Ukraine war, and United Nations Security Council reforms.

Sidhant Sibal: How do you assess the situation in Venezuela post the elections? I believe that Panama has taken an important decision in terms of suspending its diplomatic relationship with Venezuela. What is the reason behind it?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: I want to make one thing clear, we didn't break our relationship with Venezuela. We lowered it to the consulate level. The decision to break diplomatic ties was taken by Venezuela. So that's the first thing that I want to make sure that the public and your audience understand. Secondly, Panama has a clear position about principles of democracy. We as a country cannot accept that the rule of law, that an election was probably one of the last resources to solve the political situation in Venezuela, did not fulfil its goal, because the results are not being made public with transparency. We cannot accept the result of an election in which transparency is in doubt. So we hope that the act, the different documents that will support the results are made clear again, and the Venezuelans can find a peaceful solution to the problem. So far, there's no sign that the government is willing to make such documents that will confirm the result of an election.

Sidhant Sibal: Are you speaking to other countries in the region about what has happened in terms of the election results in Venezuela? And have you spoken to the Americans as well? We have seen comments by the US Vice President Kamala Harris as well, she has made a tweet as well, any comments on that?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: We respect each country's decision about the current situation in Venezuela. I can tell you that we in Latin America have a group of foreign ministers from nine countries in agreement. Probably their statements can be a little bit different, but the aim is the same. We need to have access to the document that supports the results. We need to have independent auditing of the results. Until then, we will maintain our clear position. Democracy is a principle that cannot be negotiated. Our president is committed to the rule of law. Our president is committed to transparent elections. Panama is an ally of democracy. Your country is the biggest democracy in the world. You just had an excellent democratic exercise, millions of people went voting, and the transparency of your election is an example to the world. So that's why we have taken this position in regard to the Venezuelan election. We need transparency. We need Venezuelans to know the full results, the transparency of the election to be made fully and then we can, you know, move forward in different directions if, if the results are made public, so far they haven't. So our position is to support the democratic value of Venezuela and to support the full transparency of the elections.

Sidhant Sibal: So now coming to the India-Panama relationship. And this interview is all about, what does Panama see in India and when it comes to engagement with India? Starting with a broader question, how do you see the relationship between India and Panama?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Our relationship between India and Panama has improved greatly, lately. You need to know that my predecessor has an Indian background, and she re-launched the relationship with India. Your foreign minister came to Panama, she visited India. And I understand the importance of India on the global stage. I understand the rise of India as an economic and geopolitical power. And we share a lot in common, customs, you have a different tradition, you are a multicultural country, different religions. In Panama, we have the same thing, here in Panama, you can find a Christian, you can find a Jewish, you can find a Muslim, living in agreement, living in, you know, in full cooperation. One thing that approaches Panama very closely to India. From that, we can work on business, we can work on educational change, we can work on investment, we can work on cultural changes. And I am sure that with the leadership of our president, we will move forward very fast to, you know, create a greater bond between India and Panama.

Sidhant Sibal: So you pointed to high-level engagement between the two sides. What kind of high-level engagement we can expect, and there is no ambassador of Panama here in Delhi? Are you likely to appoint one?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Yes, we are going to appoint one very soon. Our president wants to support our mission there. We understand the importance of India in the region, the importance of India in the world, Panama could be a great partner for India because from here you can have the base for Indian companies. And there is a market of almost one billion people in Latin America, Central America, and South America, the strategic position of Panama could be of great value for your business. Plus, we would like to see Indian enterprises establish headquarters in Panama for the region, take advantage and manufacture different products in Panama. Panama has a comparative advantage in the region because of our hub, because of our political stability, because of our economic stability, and, of course, because of our canal. And we can play a great, great, you know, compliment for Indian businesses to tackle the different markets in the region.

Sidhant Sibal: How do you plan to make Panama an attractive destination for Indian businesses? And there is an issue as well. When it comes to getting a visa for Panama, one has to travel to Mumbai. So how do you plan to resolve that issue?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: We plan to modernise our visa process and we will establish a visa process in New Delhi. The process is very bureaucratic. President José Raúl Mulino is engaged in modernising. The president is engaged in giving great support to our most important embassy, and India will be an important embassy. We are addressing the situation, will present a solution very soon. Your ambassador Dr Sumit Seth here is very active in that regard, and we have talked about the necessity to improve the process of granting visas. And I promise you, we will have a smooth process.

Sidhant Sibal: So Panama is a country which is en route to migration, both legal and illegal migration, if you can perhaps talk about it. And is this route used by Indians to go to the United States?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Not really. The main countries when it comes to illegal immigrants are Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Haiti and China. The diaspora of India is regular. Here in Panama, we have about 15,000 Indian background people. They're very important in the business world. They're very important in the community, and they are great actors in creating jobs, investment, and they are very respectful here. You know, with respect to your tradition. And we don't consider India to be a problem of irregular immigration.

Sidhant Sibal: Any plans to sign the mobility and migration pact with India? India has signed these pacts with several countries in the past few months and years.

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Yes, it is open. I need to discuss that with the Ambassador and Panama wants to establish a great, great relationship with India, believe me, that is top of the agenda with Ambassador Dr Sumit Seth.

Sidhant Sibal: In terms of Indian support to Panama, if you can talk about that, I believe that India offers 25 scholarships to Panama to use that, and also in terms of cooperation with India in terms of the ITEC courses, if you can talk about that.

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Yes indeed. We have talked with the Ambassador Dr Sumit about the scholarship, we want to send our young students to learn from your different educational centres. I have talked to the ambassador about the probability of establishing here an important tech educational centre. Here in Panama, we can develop the assembling, testing and packaging of the semiconductors. We have talked with the ambassador. I am sure we will have an agreement, and probably soon you will see here in Panama, an important and prestigious educational centre of India.

Sidhant Sibal: So what kind of cooperation are you looking for with India in terms of digital infrastructure?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Yes, indeed, we have talked about many, many important cooperation in technology, in education, in cultural change. I want to, you know, relaunch our relations with India. We understand the importance of India on the world stage. I said again, we hope that when my mission is finished here, India will be one of the most important partners of Panama. India is a democratic country, we are too. India shares our principle of, you know, of peace, and we need to create bonds that we transcend our tenure.

Sidhant Sibal: United Nations Security Council reform now, India is very keen to get a membership for the Security Council. What's your position on that? And I believe you will also be a non-permanent member of the UNSC on the first of January 2025 so what is your focus area?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: We understand the rise of India as a power. India is a country of 1.4 billion people. India is one of the emerging economies. India has a great military capability. India promotes peace. So in that regard, we recognize the importance to modernise the United Nations and to modernise the Security Council. You know, you know, the obstacle to achieve that. Reforms need the backing of two-thirds of the UNGA and the positive vote of the permanent members, the world has changed, and India is not the same as it was four years ago. We need to have a serious discussion about the modernization of global governance. We need to find consensus, not only with India, with other important countries in the world.

Sidhant Sibal: Pharma is another area where India has taken a lead during the Covid pandemic. India sent vaccines to your country in terms of pharma cooperation, what are your expectations with the Indian side in terms of whether it's regulatory approvals or getting cheap Indian drugs?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: To be sincere, we understand our problem in Panama with pharma, my first advice will be for Indian companies to establish here, a manufacturing hub and then being here, things will be easier. Nevertheless, we understand that we need to lower the cost of pharma for Panamanians, and India could be a very important player to solve that problem. So we will work hard with Ambassador Dr Sumit Seth to try to find solutions to this very important issue for Panamanians and India could be of great support for the Panamanian government to reach such solutions.

Sidhant Sibal: So earlier in the conversation, you talked about the Indian diaspora in Panama, what's your view about the role they have played, especially Indian origin, Panamanians in your country, there are approximately 15,000 members of the Indian diaspora?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: We understand the importance of the Indian diaspora. They play active roles in the business community. Their traditions are well known in Panama. We are very respectful of your religion. Again, I want to highlight that Panama resembles much of India here, as in India, we have a Jewish, Muslims, Christians, you and your country have different religions, different languages. The level of understanding is very important there and here. So I can conclude, in a very convincing way, that the Indian diaspora in Panama is well appreciated. It is an important factor in the development of Panama as a country, and we want to continue that, and we want to increase that in our development.

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see Indian engagement in the Panama Canal?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Well, the canal is only one important element. We are a very important hub. We have the most important airport in the region. So the canal could be a factor to attract Indian investment. And from here you can outreach to the Caribbean, to Central America and to South America. So the complementarity of Panama for the Indian business world is very important. Our mission is to make that clear to the Indian authorities, to the Indian business people, and we are willing, and we are ready to partner with India in such regards.

Sidhant Sibal: So I believe there are other countries in your region, in fact, your neighbours, who are planning to build similar canals. So how do you plan to make sure that the Panama Canal has its own competitive advantage at a time when other countries are looking to have their own canals?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Well, we work on competition. We respect each country's policies toward developing its connectivity, but we have a comparative advantage that is very clear. We need to make sure that we remain so, the Canal, which has its own independence to manage the most important asset in the continent, will invest a lot of millions in the next seven years to maintain the competitiveness of the canal. We can rest assured, the canal will continue to play an important role in the world of commerce, the competition is welcome. I ensure that such development in our neighbours will improve the importance of the canal.

Sidhant Sibal: So climate change is one thing that has impacted everyone on the planet. Now, essentially, when it comes to India's contribution, India has been taking the lead when it comes to the International Solar Alliance, the Biofuel Alliance as well. You have, in fact, joined the International Solar Alliance as well. So how do you see cooperating with India when it comes to dealing with the challenge of climate change?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Well, we need to cooperate very closely. In Panama, we are taking steps. We have already relocated an important community in the North East Atlantic because of climate change. We are investing more and more in renewable energy, and your country is a leader in solar energy. And again, we need to be together in this battle against climate change, not only Panama and India but the whole world. And we hope that Panama, in the Security Council, will present this as an important issue to be addressed by, you know, the world community. We recognize your commitment to tackle climate change, your commitment to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases. I know that you have reforested millions and millions of trees. That's a good example for the world, and we need to, you know, to take advantage. We are one of the three countries being carbon negative because we have a huge, huge, you know, forest reserve. We can learn from each other. We can share experiences.

Sidhant Sibal: When it comes to the Russia-Ukraine war, or when it comes to the situation between Washington and Beijing. How does it impact countries in Latin America and countries like yours, in terms of the situation on the ground, and in terms of food security, in terms of energy security?

Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez: Okay, first, we have condemned the aggression of Russia on Ukraine. That's a violation of international law, and we would like to see a stop to that conflict. We would like to see that Ukraine gets back its territory. There's no need for a conflict in the 21st century. We hope that the European Union, with the leadership of the USA, a solution can be found very soon. In regard to China and the USA, it is clear that that's a very complex relationship. But based on that, Panama could be a beneficiary of the situation. India can invest in our country. We know that India has a very capable entrepreneur class, so I'm willing to work closely with your ambassador Dr Sumit Seth, with your authorities to take advantage of Panama. We are a peace-loving country.