What Happened
Authorities from the City of Panama received members of Bolivia’s legislative branch at the municipal headquarters in a meeting focused on sharing experiences and discussing possible areas of cooperation. The visitors were welcomed by Sebastian Otway, director of the Office of International Cooperation, in the Mayor’s Office.
Bolivian parliamentarians Sergio Sebastián and Nathalia Solares Tuesta reviewed the main advances of the current municipal administration and discussed the plans and projects being promoted by the city government. The exchange centered on public management and the practical lessons that can be drawn from local administration in Panama’s capital.
Technology Partnerships on the Table
The delegation also met with Nicole Orillac, who represents the Innovation and Entrepreneurial Capital Lab of the Inter-American Development Bank, known as BID-LAB. That conversation explored possible cooperation opportunities related to technology projects, highlighting the growing interest in innovation as a tool for urban development and public services.
For Panama City, these kinds of meetings fit into a broader strategy of international outreach. The Office of International Cooperation is promoting a calendar of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening ties with other countries and opening doors for professional, educational, artistic, and cultural exchanges.
Why It Matters
Municipal diplomacy has become an increasingly important part of city governance, especially for capitals looking to attract knowledge, investment, and partnerships. By meeting with foreign lawmakers and development actors, Panama City positions itself as a regional interlocutor on issues such as innovation, management, and international cooperation.
The presence of a BID-LAB representative adds another dimension to the discussion, since technology-focused collaboration can support initiatives that improve public administration and create space for entrepreneurial activity. For Panama City, such exchanges can help connect local projects with regional expertise and multilateral support.
The meeting also reflects the role of the Panamanian capital as a venue for regional dialogue. Engagements like this one can help build practical links between institutions in Central and South America while reinforcing Panama City’s profile in international cooperation.
Background
The City of Panama has been advancing a municipal agenda that emphasizes modernization and external engagement. Through the Office of International Cooperation, city authorities are seeking opportunities to connect with foreign counterparts in areas that go beyond government-to-government protocol and move toward concrete collaboration.
That approach places the capital within a wider regional trend in which local governments pursue partnerships directly, especially in innovation, education, and culture. The meeting with Bolivian lawmakers fits squarely within that effort.