My name is Shohei Tada, and I've assumed the position of Chief Representative of the Panama Office since May 2024.
I have been involved in international cooperation for over 20 years, primarily in the Latin American region. It is a great honor for me to work in this wonderful country, Panama.
Panama is a country with a territory of 75,000 square kilometers, slightly smaller than prefecture Hokkaido, and a population of approximately 4.41 million, slightly less than Hokkaido (2022). Although its location connecting North and South America might suggest the country extends from north to south, it stretches from east to west, with about 600 km east to west and 50 to 200 km north to south. Panama's main economic activities are centered in the services sector, with the Panama Canal as the primary focus. Although the country has recorded an average GDP growth rate of 5.8% over the past 20 years (1990-2019), it faces development challenges such as a high income inequality and regional disparities.
Panama is a country blessed with a rich natural environment and great biodiversity. It has achieved the international “30 by 30” goal ahead of schedule, aiming to conserve more than 30% of its land and sea by 2030. Additionally, Panama is one of the seven countries in the world that have achieved “carbon negative” status, meaning it absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits (2021).
In this country, JICA has carried out various forms of cooperation since 1963 for over 60 years, including technical cooperation, non-reimbursable financial cooperation, volunteer dispatch, yen loans, and financing and investment in the private sector. In recent years, JICA has prioritized infrastructure development, inequality reduction, and environmental conservation in Panama. Notable projects include the construction of the monorail, environmental conservation in the Canal watershed, improvements in the quality of life in rural areas, financial inclusion through private banks, and capability building in infectious disease research. Additionally, taking advantage of Panama's position as a transportation hub in Central and South America, our Office in Panama forms part of the regionalization process of some of JICA’s operational functions.
I am committed to doing my utmost to further develop the cooperative relationships established by many involved stakeholders. I thank you in advance for your support.
Shohei Tada
Chief Representative of the JICA Panama Office
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