Lula visits Panama, Brazil’s largest trading partner in Central America

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva makes an official visit this Wednesday (28) to Panama, Brazil’s main trading partner in Central America. Last year, bilateral business flow reached a record amount of US$1.6 billion, growth of 78% compared to the previous year.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that Lula is a guest of the Panamanian president, José Raúl Mulino.

As a visitor of honor, Lula will participate in the opening session of the International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean 2026, co-organized by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) and the Panamanian government, at the Panama Convention Center.

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On the same day, the president will have a bilateral meeting with Mulino to discuss trade and investment opportunities, development cooperation, energy transition and biofuels, among other topics. The program also includes a visit to the Cocolí lock, on the Panama Canal.

The ministry says that Panama, the first country in Central America to join Mercosur, is of great importance in logistical matters due to its strategic location and high-level port and airport infrastructure.

In the Brazilian delegation, there will be 100 Brazilian businesspeople led by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI).

The entity wants to reinforce the presence and protagonism of Brazil’s productive sector in one of the main spaces for regional dialogue on sustainable growth, inclusion and competitiveness.

The CNI highlights that Brazilian exports to Panama grew 426% in the last decade, with the manufacturing industry representing almost 90% of this flow.

For the leader of the mission and director of CNI, Paulo Afonso Ferreira, the initiative reflects a clear strategy to strengthen the presence of Brazilian industry in the region.

“Panama is a strategic partner for Brazil and a fundamental connection point with Latin America and the Caribbean. This mission was designed to create concrete business opportunities, expand institutional dialogue and position our industry in a competitive and integrated environment”, assesses Ferreira.