S'pore, Panama to discuss FTA<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE: Singapore and Panama announced on Tuesday they had
\ndecided to start negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement
\n(FTA) with the aim of completing talks within a year.<\/p>\n
The proposed agreement would be the first between Singapore
\nand a Central American country and between Panama and a Southeast
\nAsian country, the governments of both nations said in a joint
\nstatement released on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"The Panama-Singapore FTA will be a valuable platform from
\nwhich to unlock the benefits of deeper economic ties between two
\nstrategically located trading centers, one serving the Americas
\nand the other the Asia-Pacific," the statement said.<\/p>\n
"Beyond promoting trade and investment flows, an FTA will
\npromote greater synergy between two economies with complementary
\nstrengths in the logistics, transport and maritime sectors."<\/p>\n
The announcement came after Panamanian Vice-President Arturo
\nVallarino and Minister of Commerce and Industry Joaquin Jacome
\nDiez met Singaporean Trade Minister George Yeo here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Singapore has aggressively pursued FTAs with countries around
\nthe world, having already signed agreements with New Zealand,
\nJapan, the European Free Trade Association, Australia and the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
It is also in discussions to close agreements with Mexico,
\nCanada, South Korea, India, Jordan, Sri Lanka and Chile.<\/p>\n
Singapore, with virtually no agricultural sector to support
\nits population of 4.3 million people, is heavily reliant on trade
\nand has a reputation for a strong high-end electronics export
\nsector.<\/p>\n
Panama is similarly recognized as having a very open economy
\nwith a strong financial sector.--AFP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/spore-panama-to-discuss-fta-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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