VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Ambassador to Panama, Sukmo Harsono handed over  Credential Letter to President of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen at the Presidential Palace (Palacio de Las Garzas), Panama City on Friday (16/4 ).  The event took place solemnly and applied strict health protocols. President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen expressed his welcome remark to Ambassador Sukmo Harsono in Panama. His government will cooperate with Indonesia, not only in bilateral relations, but also in international forums.  He also expressed his hope that Indonesia would make Panama an economic gateway in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Sukmo Harsono conveyed the warm greetings from President Joko Widodo and Indonesian people to President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen and the people of Panama. Ambassador Sukmo welcomed the hopes of President Laurentino and he will propose to Indonesian Minister of Trade, Muhammad Lutfi to open a warehouse in the Colon Free Trade Zone as a space for promoting Indonesian products.  Moreover, Ambassador Sukmo also expressed his hope that the government of Panama can remove Indonesia from the list of prohibited countries of Panama in granting visas to improve people-to-people contacts.

Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Panama have been going on since 1979 through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding done by both countries in New York, USA and this was followed up by the opening of the Panama Embassy in Jakarta in 1999 and the opening of the Indonesian Embassy in Panama City in 2010.  Previously, Panama was concurrently held by the Indonesian Embassy in Mexico City.