The Vice-President of the Republic of Guatemala, H.E. Karin Herrera Aguilar, visited Panama with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing the use of satellite technology to address environmental and development challenges. During her stay, the Vice-President met with partner entities of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre, including the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIRE), the National Secretariat for Science and Technology (SENACYT), the Government Innovation Authority (AIG), and the European Union Delegation to Panama.
The meeting, which was also attended by Claudia Herrera, Stakeholder Liaison Officer, and Mar Nolla, Knowledge & Communication Officer from the Copernicus LAC Panama Centre, focused on identifying opportunities for collaboration in the use of Earth observation data for disaster prevention, environmental monitoring and sustainable development in Guatemala. These efforts are part of the follow-up to the Earth Observation High Level Policy Dialogue held in Antigua Guatemala on 22 September, in which Karin Herrera also participated, addressing the challenges facing the country and how the use of this data could have a significant impact.
Claudia Herrera, Stakeholder Liaison Officer at CopernicusLAC Panama Centre, presents the initiatives which have been carried out in the region over the last year.
At the Bolívar Palace, the Vice-President was received by the Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, Carlos Guevara Mann, who reiterated Panama’s commitment to continuing to promote regional integration. During the visit, the impact of the Copernicus LAC Panama Centre was showcased, supporting the use of free and open Earth Observation data through cooperation with the European Union within the framework of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance and the Global Gateway Strategy.
Vice-President Herrera highlighted Guatemala’s interest in strengthening regional cooperation to manage risks such as fires and floods, emphasising the importance of sharing data and developing capacities to address global challenges such as climate change and food security.
The Vice-President of Guatemala, H.E. Karin Herrera, outlined the main challenges facing her country in terms of disaster risk management and food security.
The European Union Delegation to Panama, represented by Javier Arregui, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to continue promoting the Copernicus programme in the LAC region, with Panama as leader, to develop Earth Observation services which contribute to disaster risk reduction (DRR) and risk mapping, in line with the objectives of the Sendai Framework.
This visit reaffirms the importance of international cooperation in the adoption and use of space data to address the environmental, economic and social challenges affecting the region.