The American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama (AmCham Panamá) held its 4th Exclusive CEO Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, for representatives of member companies, at the offices of AES Panamá, located in Costa del Este.
The guest speaker at this meeting was Juan José Barrios, Country Economist at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), who delivered a presentation titled “Economic and Social Conditions and Outlook,” offering an analysis of Panama’s current economic situation and of the main factors affecting its performance within a global environment.
During his presentation, he highlighted the country’s structural strengths, especially in key sectors such as services, logistics, and the Panama Canal, as well as the opportunities and challenges the national economy faces in the international context.
Juan José Barrios leads the IDB’s macroeconomic assessments and strategy development in Panama, and has held similar positions in El Salvador and Venezuela. His strong academic background includes three master’s degrees in economics from prestigious universities such as the London School of Economics, Northeastern University, and the University of Antwerp. He has also broadened his professional work by applying data science tools to the analysis of economic policy.
The purpose of these meetings is to offer attendees an up-to-date analysis of the national and global macroeconomy, as well as to promote strategic dialogue on the measures companies can adopt in order to adapt and thrive in a constantly evolving economic environment.
The event included welcoming remarks from Miguel Bolinaga, President of AES Panamá, followed by opening remarks from Mariela de la Guardia Oteiza, President of AmCham Panamá. There was also an interactive question-and-answer session with the audience, followed by a networking session among the executives present, strengthening business connections and the exchange of perspectives among private sector leaders.
AmCham Panamá thanks AES Panamá for its hospitality and support in making this important meeting possible, reaffirming the shared commitment to creating settings for dialogue that contribute to strengthening the country’s business and economic environment.
