Interview with H.E. Sally Loo Hui

We are pleased to share an engaging and insightful interview featuring H.E. Sally Loo Hui, Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, conducted by Mr. Akmal Nazir, Founder of Diplomat Link, at the Embassy of Panama in The Hague.

This meaningful conversation provides a platform to exchange perspectives on diplomacy, international relations, cultural understanding, and the importance of strengthening connections between nations. It also highlights the value of diplomatic engagement in fostering mutual respect, encouraging collaboration, and building bridges between countries and communities. We encourage you to explore the full interview below and share your thoughts, insights, and feedback with us.

Q. How would your Excellency assess the current state of trade and economic relations between Panama and the Netherlands, and where do you see the greatest opportunities for further growth?

Ans. I would assess the relationship as solid, complementary and strategically important, but with significant room for further growth. Our economic relationship has traditionally been supported by trade, maritime connectivity and logistics. The next stage, however, should focus on greater diversification, particularly investment, technology, knowledge and value-added activities.

I see five promising areas: maritime and logistics cooperation; Panama as a platform for Dutch companies in the region; water management and climate resilience; energy, digitalization and innovation; and food and agricultural technology.

Our vision should be to evolve from well-connected trading partners into strategic economic partners linking Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and global markets.

Q. The Netherlands is home to the Port of Rotterdam, while Panama operates the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most important trade routes. How can the two countries further strengthen cooperation between their maritime, port and logistics sectors?

Ans. Panama and the Netherlands are natural maritime partners. Although geographically distant, both countries share a vocation for connecting economies, facilitating trade and serving as gateways to larger regions. The Panama Canal and the Port of Rotterdam are complementary nodes within the global trading system, creating strong opportunities for cooperation.

Key areas include port digitalization and smart logistics, sustainable and resilient maritime infrastructure, data exchange, artificial intelligence and more efficient customs processes. We should also strengthen cooperation between port authorities, universities, maritime institutions, logistics companies and technology providers.

Our objective should be to build a Panama–Netherlands maritime and logistics partnership capable of developing solutions for the future of global trade.

Q. What opportunities does Panama offer Dutch companies seeking to expand their operations in Latin America and the wider Americas, particularly through the Colón Free Trade Zone, Panama Pacifico and Panama’s logistics infrastructure?

Ans. For Dutch companies, Panama should be viewed not only as a market of five million people, but as a regional platform for reaching Latin America, the Caribbean and the wider Americas. The combination of the Canal, port and air connectivity, logistics services and special economic regimes gives Panama a distinctive strategic advantage.

The Colón Free Trade Zone offers opportunities in regional distribution, warehousing, re-export and value-added logistics, while Panama Pacífico and other special regimes provide opportunities for regional headquarters, technology, manufacturing, services and logistics. Panama is also moving beyond the traditional concept of a transit hub by promoting higher-value activities, advanced technology, manufacturing, assembly and modern services.

My message to Dutch companies is simple: do not look at Panama only as a destination—look at Panama as your platform for the region.

Q. How can Panama and the Netherlands work together to strengthen global supply chains and facilitate trade between Europe, Latin America and Asia, particularly through the Panama Canal and Dutch logistics infrastructure?

Ans. Panama and the Netherlands are well positioned to work together to strengthen global supply chains by combining Panama’s strategic location and the Panama Canal with the Netherlands’ world-class logistics infrastructure, European market access, and expertise in port operations and supply chain management.

The two countries can develop a stronger logistics bridge connecting Europe, Latin America, and Asia—not only by moving goods more efficiently, but also by making supply chains more resilient, sustainable, and technologically advanced.

Panama can serve as a major maritime and transshipment hub for the Americas, connecting cargo flows across the Atlantic and Pacific. The Netherlands, through the Port of Rotterdam and its European transport network, can provide access to European markets and onward distribution.  Cooperation could focus on improving shipping connections, coordinating port operations, strengthening transshipment services, and developing more efficient multimodal routes.

Dutch expertise in port digitalization and logistics management could help Panama further develop integrated systems for cargo tracking, vessel scheduling, customs procedures, and information sharing among port operators.

The objective should be to build a more intelligent, resilient and sustainable trade architecture linking Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Q. Beyond trade and investment, Panama and the Netherlands have important opportunities for cultural cooperation. How can cultural diplomacy, the arts, heritage, education and creative industries help bring the two countries closer together?

Ans. Cultural diplomacy allows us to discover each other beyond trade and investment. Panama and the Netherlands both have diverse cultural identities and a strong international outlook. There is significant potential for cooperation in visual arts, music, film, literature, architecture, design and cultural heritage.

Education is equally important. University partnerships, student and researcher exchanges can create relationships that last for decades. We should also encourage young artists, entrepreneurs and digital creators to become ambassadors of our bilateral relationship.

For Panama, cultural diplomacy is an opportunity to present the country beyond the Canal—as a multicultural society and a bridge between continents and cultures.

Our goal should be a relationship in which culture accompanies commerce, education accompanies diplomacy and people accompany policy.

Q. Looking ahead to the next five years, what would your Excellency consider the most important priorities for building an even stronger Panama–Netherlands partnership in trade, investment, logistics, innovation and culture?

Ans. Looking ahead, my vision is that Panama and the Netherlands should build a partnership that is broader, more strategic and more future-oriented. We already have a strong foundation in trade, logistics and connectivity. The next step is to connect those strengths with investment, innovation, sustainability, knowledge and culture.

Over the next five years, I would like to see more Dutch companies using Panama as a platform for the Americas, more Panamanian companies connecting with Europe through the Netherlands, closer cooperation between our ports and logistics ecosystems, and concrete partnerships in water, renewable energy, agriculture and technology.

But I would also like to see more students, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists and young professionals moving between our two countries. Because ultimately, the strongest strategic partnerships are not built only through infrastructure and trade agreements—they are built through people.

That, in my view, should be our ambition: to transform the natural complementarity between Panama and the Netherlands into a long-term partnership for connectivity, innovation, sustainability and shared prosperity.”

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