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Panama president-elect develops business-friendly cabinet

Panama President-elect Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday pulled magnate and an economic expert into his ranks, the very first cabinet selections in what Mulino has guaranteed will be an administration friendly to the economic sector.

Mulino, whose federal government will begin the transition procedure next month, tapped magnate Felipe Chapman for the economy and financing minister post and economist Javier Martinez-Acha as foreign minister. The project is over, from here on out it's our job to lead the nation with the very best people possible, Mulino stated.

Chapman is the kid of former Planning Minister Guillermo Chapman.

His appointment is plainly a positive development, one that increases the probability of more sound fiscal management in upcoming years, composed analysts from BancTrust & & Co. in a note to clients.

Julio Molto, head of the nationwide authorities under Martinelli, will also act as trade minister. In his role, Molto will oversee the closure of the once-lucrative Very first Quantum copper mine in the country.

Martinelli is a close ally of Mulino's and had actually headed the presidential ticket before his run in this month's elections was disqualified and Mulino took his location.

The previous president holed up in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City after his conviction in a money-laundering case called New Business was promoted, though he still wielded outsized impact on the election, with Mulino visiting him after the vote.

Regardless of the legal difficulties, Martinelli's 2009-2014 administration was a financial gold mine, with companies and job creation booming.

Mulino has actually vowed to follow Martinelli's financial strategy, though the new authorities will have to overcome the difficulties that are being inherited from the (outbound) administration, the BancTrust analysts composed.

Keeping the country on the path of financial consolidation continues to be unlikely in the short-term, they cautioned.

Mulino also named Jose Icaza, the previous head of Panama's. chamber of commerce, as minister for the Panama Canal. The trade. path, one of the world's busiest, has actually been struck by a recent. drought and day-to-day crossings have been restricted.

The president-elect said on Thursday he still had to name an. interior minister and education minister.

(source: Reuters)