World Economic Forum Convenes Panama Strategy Meeting Amid Seismic Recovery
Supporting an estimated 5% of maritime global trade, Panama occupies a distinctive and strategic position in the global economy, while operating in an evolving international environment presenting both new opportunities and challenges,
Alois Zwinggi, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, stated ahead of the summit. The World Economic Forum is convening senior government and business leaders in Panama City for a Country Strategy Meeting on October 21-22, 2026, weforum.org reported.
Organized in collaboration with President José Raúl Mulino and the Government of Panama, the two-day gathering brings international executives together to address economic prospects, trade flows, and infrastructure resilience. The event opens as the nation manages recovery efforts following a recent earthquake. The World Economic Forum formally expressed its solidarity with the people and government of Panama as seismic recovery operations continue across the country.
President Mulino Hosts Global Leaders for Economic Dialogues
President José Raúl Mulino welcomed international delegates while emphasizing the country’s ongoing recovery from recent seismic events. Today, Panama is positioning itself as the ultimate regional hub for sustainable growth, clean energy and resilient logistics,
Mulino stated, according to weforum.org.
Discussions focus heavily on strengthening supply chain resilience, promoting circular economy frameworks, and integrating nature-positive solutions into port-anchored industrial systems. The country acts as a vital bridge for international commerce, handling exchange between the Americas and global markets across maritime transport, logistics, and energy networks. Selected senior representatives from the Forum’s partner community—including Vincent Clerc, Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Møller-Maersk A/S, and Niclas Mårtensson, Chief Executive Officer of Stena Line Group—are co-chairing the meeting.
Corporate Executives Outline Regional Energy and Logistics Priorities
Global business and government leaders are participating in the Panama City meetings, bringing perspectives on trade and economic prospects. Toby Z. Rice, President and CEO of EQT Corporation, noted that energy security, economic resilience, and geopolitical stability are increasingly interconnected in modern trade corridors, pointing out that Panama has long played an outsized role in connecting the world and serving as a vital crossroads for global trade and commerce.
AES Corporation Chairman and CEO Andrés Gluski highlighted the company’s nearly three decades of operations in the country. Panama already connects the world through trade, and with reliable, competitive and diversified energy, it can also attract the technologies, industries and investments shaping the next generation of global growth,
Gluski stated, as reported by weforum.org. The Country Strategy Meeting provides a unique opportunity to exchange perspectives on how Panama can build on its strategic advantages, attract investment and create the conditions for more competitive, resilient and sustainable growth,
Zwinggi noted regarding the objectives of the gathering.
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