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Reverted edits by PanamaLegal12 (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)

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{{Short description|1=Diplomatic relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Panama}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox Bilateral relations|India–Panama|India|Panama}}

'''India–Panama relations''' refer to the bilateral relations between [[India]] and [[Panama]].

Panama is the first country in [[Central America]] where India established a resident embassy in 1973. <ref name="MEA"/> Panama has an embassy in [[New Delhi]], and a consulate-general in [[Mumbai]]. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://meaprotocol.nic.in/cgi-bin/db2www/foreignmission.d2w/seDataMis#PanamaMumbai | title=Consular, Trade & Information Offices in India | publisher=Government of India | access-date=18 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115134951/http://meaprotocol.nic.in/cgi-bin/db2www/foreignmission.d2w/seDataMis#PanamaMumbai | archive-date=15 November 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Panama Foreign Minister in India.jpg|thumb|Finance Ministers Alberto Vallarino Clement and [[Pranab Mukherjee]] meeting in New Delhi in 2010.]]

The Indian-Panamanian connection is the oldest in the Central American region, dating back to the middle of the 19th century when groups of Indians, particularly [[Sikh]] immigrants, came to Panama to work on the construction of Panama railways and later the [[Panama Canal]] in the early 20th century.<ref name="MEA">{{cite web | url=http://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/India-Panama_Relations.pdf | title=India-Panama Relations | publisher=[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] | access-date=15 January 2014 }}</ref>

There are about 8,000 Indians, including those of Indian origin, in Panama, constituting the largest concentration of overseas Indians in Central America. The Indian community, predominantly from the [[Gujarat]], is mostly involved in wholesale and retail trade. <ref name="MEA"/>

A [[Gurdwara]] was built in 1986 in Panama City under the non-profit organization Sociedad Guru Nanak to serve as a place of worship for the Sikh Community in Panama. The growth of the Indian community has flourished with the constructions of the Gurdwara, Mandir, Mosques and [[Bahá'í Temple]].<ref name=ICWA >{{cite web | url=http://www.sikhnet.com/news/sikhs-panama-and-medical-school-scholarship-opportunities | title=Sikhs in Panama | access-date=15 January 2014 }}</ref>

==Visas==
Under the administration of President [[Ricardo Martinelli]], the Government of Panama announced that Indian nationals who possess a visa for the US, Canada, Australia, or any country in the EU will be granted visa-free entry.<ref >{{cite web | url=http://icwa.in/pdfs/Panama_new.pdf | title=ICWA: India-Panama Relations | publisher=Indian Council of World Affairs | access-date=15 January 2014 }}</ref> Visa exemptions has also been granted to diplomats and officials for both the countries.

==Diplomatic visits==
In November 2010, [[Alberto Vallarino Clement]], Panamanian Minister of Economy and Finance visited India for the [[World Economic Forum]] meeting in New Delhi. Following the visit, India's [[Speaker of Parliament]], [[Meira Kumar]] led a 20-member Parliamentary delegation to Panama in April 2011 to participate in the 124th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20110414/1729488.html | title=Meira Kumar to lead Parliamentary delegation to Panama City | publisher=Webindia123 | access-date=15 January 2014 }}</ref>

In 2011 and 2012, Indian government ministers [[Sachin Pilot]], [[Vayalar Ravi]], and [[E. Ahamed]] visited Panama. [[Milind Deora]] visited Panama in early 2013 to finalize a bilateral Maritime Cooperation Agreement between India and Panama. Also, cooperation over IT & E-Governance, cyber security and training, and Indian space agency [[ISRO]]'s proposed [[Tracking, telemetry, and control|TTC]] station in Panama were discussed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mea.gov.in/Uploads/PublicationDocs/21385_Annual_Report_2012-2013_English.pdf | title=Annual Report 2012-2013 | publisher=[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] | access-date=15 January 2014 }}</ref>

The Vice President of India, [[Venkaiah Naidu]] paid a 2-day visit to the country in May 2018 along with the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs and other high level delegation representing various branches of the Indian Government.<ref>http://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/29888/Visit+of+Vice+President+of+India+to+Panama++May+810+2018</ref> The President of Panama, [[Juan Carlos Varela]] broke protocol and accompanied the Vice President for the tour of the Panama Canal.<ref>http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/pressrelease/panama-president-breaks-protocol-and-accompanies-vp-shri-venkaiah-naidu-panama-canal</ref> Vice President Naidu also announced a total of $25 million of credit to set up centres of bio-diversity, drug tracking and also resources to develop the IT sector in Panama and also could expand into areas of agriculture, science & technology, space, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy. They also signed a memorandum to tackle various forms of terrorism. The President also reiterated support for [[India and the United Nations|India's bid for the permanent membership]] for the UN Security Council.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/visit-to-help-improve-bilateral-trade-with-latin-america-venkaiah-naidu/articleshow/64159394.cms</ref>

==Economic relations==

Hoping to double trade with Latin America over the next five years, India is set to expand air and sea links with the region and negotiate more free trade agreements (FTAs).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.voanews.com/content/india-hopes-to-double-trade-with-latin-america/1617639.html | title=India Hopes to Double Trade With Latin America | publisher=[[Voice of America]] | access-date=14 January 2014 }}</ref> In light of the ongoing expansion of the [[Panama Canal]], [[Air India]] has plans to make Panama the first destination for direct flights from India to Latin America, with direct twice-a-week service between New Delhi and Panama City by 2014 .<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/india-initiates-move-for-direct-sea-air-services-with-latin-america/article4479259.ece | title=India initiates move for direct sea, air services with Latin America | publisher=[[The Hindu]] Business Line | access-date=15 January 2014 }}</ref>

The biggest outward [[Foreign direct investment|FDI]] from India in the summer of 2011 was to Panama by [[Gammon India]], which pumped almost $2 billion into its Panama-based joint venture, Campo Puma Orient SA.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/money/report/indias-outward-fdi-up-59-pc/20110622.htm | title=Indian cos invest $3.7 bn abroad | publisher=Rediff | access-date=15 January 2014 }}</ref> The [[Shipping Corporation of India]] (SCI) has also established a joint venture in Panama with Japanese [[Mitsui O.S.K. Lines]], [[Nippon Yusen]], and [[K Line]] for servicing the transport of [[liquefied natural gas]]. This makes SCI the only Indian shipping company to enter the second LNG transportation business. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=16214 | title=Formation of Joint Venture Company at Panama for Transportation of Liquified Natural Gas | publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]] | access-date=19 January 2014 }}</ref>

The main items of India's exports to Panama include textiles, automobiles and accessories, iron and steel, plastic products, pharmaceuticals, tobacco products, rubber products, furniture items, and electronic equipments. India's imports from Panama include mineral fuels, oils, waxes, ships, boats, and teak and other wooden articles.

In April 2013, over 120 leading Indian companies representing various sectors including automobiles, textiles, diamonds, electrical, and engineering goods, took part in the first-ever "Made-in-India" Exhibition at Expocomer, the biggest annual trade show in Panama. Amidst these growing commercial ties, India gave Panama a [[line of credit]] of US$10 million for establishing a Biodiversity and Drug Discovery Center in [[Panama City]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.indempan.org/web/uploads/docs/Panama%20Bilateral%20Jul%202013.pdf | title=India – Panama Bilateral Relations | publisher=[[Embassy of India, Panama City]] | access-date=15 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116092739/http://www.indempan.org/web/uploads/docs/Panama%20Bilateral%20Jul%202013.pdf | archive-date=16 January 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Agreements==
Several agreements have been signed, relating to cultural and educational co-operation, foreign office consultations, mutual cooperation between [[Foreign Service Institute, India]] and the Diplomatic Academy of Panama, and the Indian [[Ministry of Agriculture]] and the Panamanian Ministry of Agricultural Development. <ref name="MEA"/>

==See also==
* [[Foreign relations of India]]
* [[Indians in Panama]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.indianembassyinpanama.com Embassy of India in Panama]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140116095753/http://www.panamaenelexterior.gob.pa/india Embassy of Panama, New Dehi]

{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{Foreign relations of Panama}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:India- relations}}
[[Category:India–Panama relations| ]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India|Panama]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Panama]]

India–Panama relations - Revision history

>Glane23: Reverted edits by PanamaLegal12 (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)