![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pancanal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/285A8254-Presidentes-wluck-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Government and state leaders from seven Latin American countries visited the Cocol\u00ed Locks at the Panama Canal. This visit was organized as part of their trip to Panama for the 2026 Latin America and Caribbean Economic Forum, organized by CAF.<\/p>\n
The delegation was led by the President of the Republic of Panama Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino, and included the President of Brazil Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva, the President of Bolivia Rodrigo Paz, President of Colombia Gustavo Petro, President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa, President of Guatemala Bernardo Ar\u00e9valo; and Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness, President-elect of Chile Jos\u00e9 Antonio Kast, and the Executive President of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean Sergio D\u00edaz-Granados.<\/p>\n
An official photograph was taken of the delegation at the Cocol\u00ed Locks, which were inaugurated in 2016 as part of the Panama Canal Expansion and now mark ten years in operation. These locks, which significantly increased the capacity of the canal, are a symbol of the Panama Canal Authority\u00b4s commitment to serve global maritime trade and international commerce.<\/p>\n
The delegation was welcomed by the Minister for Canal Affairs Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00f3n Icaza and the Administrator of the Panama Canal Ricaurte V\u00e1squez Morales.\u00a0 During the visit, the leaders received a comprehensive briefing on the operation of the locks, their historical significance, and recent advances in water sustainability, operational efficiency, and technological innovation.<\/p>\n
The visit underscores the Panama Canal\u2019s central role as a platform for logistics and trade integration in Latin America and the Caribbean. This role is especially significant as the region confronts shared economic, climate, and geopolitical challenges that are central to the discussions of Latin America and the Caribbean International Economic Forum organized by CAF.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"