France seeks infrastructure investment in Panama

French Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier is scheduled to visit Panama on September 14 to explore investment opportunities for French companies within the country’s infrastructure sector. A primary focus of the visit is the Panama Canal, where Forissier will meet with Panama Canal Authority Administrator José Ramón Icaza Clément to discuss development prospects and the opportunities available to French enterprises.

Beyond the Canal, the mission aims to position French expertise in several critical sectors, including water management and sanitation, urban transit and metro expansion, railway projects, and strategic security infrastructure. The visit includes meetings with Panamanian officials, including the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Finance, and Security. Water management is a particularly high priority due to the Canal’s reliance on fresh water from the Gatun and Alhajuela reservoirs, which has faced challenges from recent droughts.