Citi CEO Reaffirms Support for Panama After NY Meeting With Mulino

Posted on 2026-09-24

Citi CEO Expresses Interest in Boosting Support for Panama Following Meeting with Mulino in New York

In a key strategic meeting in New York City, President José Raúl Mulino met with Citi Group CEO Jane Fraser and a delegation of 26 institutional investors to present Panama's economic performance and major infrastructure projects.

Economy Outpaces International Forecasts

President Mulino announced that Panama's economy expanded by 5.5% during the first half of 2026, significantly outpacing the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) full-year forecast of 3.8%.

In light of these numbers, Jane Fraser pledged to expand Citi’s backing for Panama through:

• Global financing and streamlined access to international capital markets.

• Direct connectivity with institutional investors worldwide.

• Strategic advisory: Encouraging Panama to preserve its investment-grade rating as global funding programs become increasingly selective.

Strategic Pillars: Canal, Logistics, Tourism, and Tech

Panamanian leadership outlined key initiatives designed to secure the nation's regional dominance:

• Canal & Logistics Expansion: ACP Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta presented an $8.5 billion investment pipeline, featuring the Rio Indio reservoir, two additional port terminals, a pipeline, and an intermodal logistics corridor.

• Tourism & International Standing: A 19.3% increase in visitor arrivals through July was highlighted under the new nation brand "Panama, Host of the World", along with progress on exiting international fiscal lists after removal from the EU high-risk list in 2025.

• Technology & Semiconductors: Mulino underscored Panama’s inclusion in Pax Silica, a US-led coalition of over 30 countries securing AI and semiconductor supply chains, aligned with the country's National Advanced Technology Strategy.