IL Postcard

UN Regional Hub…Where Else? Panama's City of Knowledge

Date: 08/05/2007

No matter what you think of the United Nations (UN), it will be boosting the local economy in Panama in a direct way in the very near future.
Yes, the UN is the most recent organization to announce that it will set up shop in the City of Knowledge (Ciudad de Saber), located in former U.S. Fort Clayton in Panama City.

Nils Kastberg, the regional director of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said that Panama will become the United Nations' regional headquarters for Latin America and the Caribbean.

He said that Panama's security and political stability were primary reasons for establishing the UN headquarters here. "Panama took the lead ahead of other regions," he said, "showing leadership and commitment traditionally seen in its actions at the United Nations." He added that in contrast to some other countries, the government of Panama had gone out of its way in its willingness to work with the UN.

Panama President Martin Torrijos told media that the UN move consolidates Panama as a center of regional agencies and international organizations, and confirms the quality of Panama's legal system and infrastructure.

Just last month, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited the City of Knowledge, where he said: "…this building and its surrounding areas were for many years off limits to the Panamanian people. Now, however, the citizens of Panama have thrown it open to the whole world."

His visit is testament to the growing presence of the United Nations in Panama. In the past five years, the City of Knowledge has attracted regional units of the United Nations Development Program and the Pan American Health Organization, as well as the regional offices of the World Food Program, the United Nations Environment Program, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Natural Disaster Reduction Strategy, the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, and UNICEF.

UNICEF officials say other agencies of the UN system are considering establishing their regional offices here.

Other international organizations that have set up regional offices in Panama's City of Knowledge include the International Organization for Migration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Plan International, CARE, the Special Olympics, and the ALAS Foundation.

Best Regards,

Jessica Ramesch
Editor, Panama Insider
International Living

P.S. International Living editors are wrapping up this year's Global Retirement Index, and I for one am interested to see whether or not Panama continues its reign as the World's Top Retirement Haven. Whatever happens, you will read about it here first…