Israel Diamantaires Eye
Business With Panama
RAMAT GAN, Israel -Diamantaires in Israel
are looking to strengthen their ties with
Panama that established a diamond exchange
and began developing a trade in diamonds
over the past year.
On April 13, the Israel Diamond Institute
Group of Companies (IDI) hosted a luncheon
for a Panamanian delegation, including guest
of honor Robert Henriquez, Panama's mister
of commerce and industry, who was
accompanied by Jose Domingo Arias, vice
minister of foreign trade, and Roberto
Arango, the Panamanian ambassador to Israel.
IDI Chairman Moti Ganz welcomed the
delegation to the luncheon, which was
attended by Israeli diamond industry
leaders, and toasted the Panamanian guests,
saying, "We are hoping that in the future
there will be more transactions with the
Israeli diamond industry. You have an open
door with us for the diamond trade."
In return, Henriquez surprised the Israeli
participants by greeting them in Hebrew and
saying that his visit was a follow-up to
Panama President Ricardo Martinelli's recent
visit to Israel.
"President Martinelli has changed Panama's
relations with Israel," a media release
quotes Henriquez as saying. "We are seeking
to strengthen the bonds with Israel. In the
last few months, we have signed five
bilateral agreements with your country. The
sixth one was signed this week with the
Israeli minister of industry, trade and
labor, and is aimed at boosting the
financial and commercial cooperation between
the two countries."
Henriquez also commented on the newness of
the diamond trade in Panama and said that in
the few hours he had spent with Israeli
diamantaires, he had already learned a great
deal about the industry.
According to Arango, the ambassador to
Israel, Panama was largely unaffected by the
world economic crisis, with 11 percent
growth in 2008 and 2.4 percent growth in
2009.
Looking ahead, the nation is expecting to
complete its $5 billion Panama Canal
Expansion Project by 2014.
"This expansion will have an effect on the
whole world," Henriquez said. "Ports in
Miami and Houston are already working to
accommodate the larger ships that will now
be able to pass through the canal."
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