India, Panama form 20-member inter-parliamentary friendship group to strengthen bilateral ties

Panama City [Panama], October 15 (ANI): India and Panama have entered a new phase in their bilateral ties with the establishment of a 20-member inter-parliamentary friendship group, the Embassy of India in Panama announced on Wednesday.
In a post on X, the embassy said Ambassador Sumit Seth, along with the President of the Commission for External Relations, Walkiria Chandler, and the President of India India-Panama Interparliamentary Friendship Group, Jorge Bloise, participated in the Oath Taking Ceremony at the premises of the National Assembly of Panama.
"New Chapter: Establishment of 20 Member Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. A new chapter in the bilateral relationship between India and Panama with 20 members from Panamanian National Assembly (Parliament) becoming part of the newly created Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group. Ambassador @doctorsumitseth along with the President of Commission for External Relations Walkiria Chandler and the President of India Panama Interparlimentary Friendship group Jorge Bloise participated at the Oath Taking Ceremony at the premises of the National Assembly of Panama," the embassy posted.

🇮🇳 India Panamá 🇵🇦

🔹New Chapter: Establishment of 20 Member Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group

🔹A new chapter in the bilateral relationship between India and Panama with 20 members from Panamanian National Assembly (Parliament) becoming part of the newly created… pic.twitter.com/Q7oJcFuXnH

— India in Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica (@IndiainPanama) October 14, 2025

Earlier in September this year, on the sidelines of the UNGA Meeting, Panama President Jose Raul Mulino, in an exclusive conversation with ANI, underlined the importance of India-Panama ties, describing India as a strategic partner and highlighting prospects for greater collaboration.
"India is a very important country for Panama. The relationship between India and Panama is in a great, great position this time. India is a strategic country for us, and we are sharing information with respect to the possibility of increasing India's investment in technology, medicine, production, and many things in Panama," Mulino told ANI on sidelines of UNGA meeting.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), note din a previous statement how the India-Panama relations are the oldest in the Central American region dating back to the middle of the 19th Century when groups of Indians came to Panama to work on the construction of Panama Railways and later the Panama Canal in the early 20th Century.
Panama and India have enjoyed cordial, warm, and friendly relations, based on mutual understanding and growing bilateral trade and comprehensive cooperation. (ANI)