New APEX Board of Directors Takes Office and Outlines Path to Continue Boosting Exports
The association will focus on enabling the pending processing plants, promoting the export spirit among young people, and complying with European regulations for deforestation-free products.
The new board of directors of the Panamanian Association of Exporters (APEX) for the 2025-2026 period took office today, Wednesday, January 29, in a commemorative event held at a hotel in the capital city.
During the event, re-elected president Bianca Morán reaffirmed her commitment to continue working toward strengthening the export sector, promoting the quality, competitiveness, and diversity of Panamanian products in international markets.
For this period, she stated that the association has set three main goals that will serve as the roadmap to continue driving our exports:
Enable the pending processing plants in the region, ready to export under the highest food standards. «These plants represent a great opportunity to boost our productive capacity and meet international demands with quality and competitiveness, immediately generating new jobs as they are operational and have installed growth capacity,» Morán detailed in her speech.
2. Foster the export spirit in young people. It is essential to inspire and prepare the new generations to see exports as an opportunity for personal and professional development. «This includes technical training, access to specialized programs, and strengthening their skills in foreign trade, alongside the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), with whom we aim to grow a new generation of exporters and develop our ecosystem, which is a pending task,» she explained.
- Comply with European regulations for deforestation-free products. «This regulation, which represents a unique opportunity for those of us already exporting to Europe, requires the digitalization of processes and ensuring traceability of product origins, along with its chain of custody. While Panama does not need regulatory adjustments to comply with this standard, we must modernize our technological platforms to facilitate its implementation and meet the EU’s requirements,» Morán emphasized.
However, to create an export culture in Panama, Morán said, we need to change our mindset and make use of all the studies we already have to direct resources effectively and ensure that state institutions are run by qualified individuals with a development-oriented mentality.
«We remain a slow country, full of costly bureaucracy and the discretionary power of officials who are not well-regarded by investors or international markets,» questioned the re-elected president of the APEX 2025 board of directors.
In this regard, Morán advocated for modernizing outdated legislations in this globalized world and revitalizing commercial promotion, which, due to a lack of resources, has lagged behind compared to other countries in the region.
On the other hand, Morán also highlighted the potential of value-added exports from other countries that Panama can also tap into. She mentioned that, for example, the Netherlands has developed value-added food industries through its ports, becoming the second-largest exporter globally after the United States.
In the Americas, Uruguay has maintained growth in its exports and reexports, using geographic advantages and investing in infrastructure to develop certified value-added products with raw materials produced by its neighboring countries.
«Panama may be small in size, but our potential is immense. With clear strategies like market diversification, identifying specific niches, and developing customized products, we can turn our limitations into opportunities and continue positioning ourselves in international markets to prove that Panama is a worthwhile investment,» Morán stressed, inviting entrepreneurs to join this challenge with commitment and optimism.
«It is our job to continue conveying confidence that betting on Panama is a good business decision, and the future of our exports is in our hands,» Morán concluded.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by entrepreneurs, APEX members, and board directors, as well as high-ranking officials from the National Government, including Carlos Hoyos, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Industries, who highlighted the efforts and dedication of the export sector as a key driver of Panama’s economic development.
About us
Ecotopia Teak, S.A., we are a family-owned company dedicated to reforestation, harvesting, and exporting wood from commercial plantations. We work under high production standards and with social responsibility to obtain high-quality wood according to the needs and demands of national and international markets. Additionally, we actively contribute to the local economy by creating employment opportunities in the communities where we operate. Our commitment is to lead the industry in sustainable reforestation and wood production, preserving our natural resources and building a greener and more sustainable future.
