Key remarks from a distinguished pair of Panama dignitaries highlighted the lineup at the first day of the sixth International Economic Forum of the Americas’ World Strategic Forum on Monday at Miami’s Biltmore Hotel.
Juan Carlos Navarro, former mayor of Panama City and CEO of NSolar, addressed “Global Trends in Real Estate Investment,” while Jorge Quijano, Panama Canal Authority (ACP) CEO, spoke on “Financing Infrastructure: A Long-Term Perspective on Development.”
Navarro’s perspective focused on rapid urbanization and the rise of international cities as production and development hubs. His remarks took into consideration the forces behind an industry expected to exceed the trillion-dollar mark in 2016; posing questions about today’s major trends in residential, business and commercial real estate; challenging listeners to envision future investment opportunities; and educating the audience about macroeconomic effects on different markets.
Quijano spoke about investment intended to close the infrastructure gap; framing targeted outlay as a major force supporting economic development and social inclusivity; and stressing efficient planning, sage selection of financial backing, and technical savvy to keep financial, technical, environmental, social and governance aspects of projects interconnected for optimum results.
He raised questions about today’s economic climate and its impact on the future of infrastructure investment, referencing the recent Paris Climate Conference and whether private capital venture can substitute for public sector investment.
