María Eugenia Herrera, Minister of Culture, was charged with presenting the theme "Creative Economics Cluster, where art, music and local cuisine are highlighted," at II Local Leaders Forum 2025, "Local governments promoting production development of the country."

Under the concept "Our greatest wealth: the historic, natural and cultural heritage," Minister Herrera said that each of our provinces has its own identity and that every region is different, thanks to our artisan, our knowledge and our customs that have been safeguarded. That's why the creative economy remains and that's why we have to enhance the wealth of every region.

"We are a pluricultural and multi-ethnic country that knows how to do business with the whole world, culture is an identity: we are unique, special, unrepeatable and non-transferable. But we have a citizen's duty, that of collective work, to unite art and culture because the expression of the soul is art and creativity was given to us all alike," said Herrera.

The Forum aims to strengthen municipalities and communal boards through strategic alliances with central government and the private sector, with a view to generating more social and economic impact on communities.
At the opening of the Forum, Roxana Méndez, Administrator of the National Decentralization Authority, called upon those present to work as a team, to innovate, to change paradigms, to make alliances and to interconnect local governments.

Susana Pinilla, General Manager of Action for the Common good for development, remarked that from our territories we have to put our natural, cultural and productive riches to value and we will see regional riches coming up.

That space, aimed at local leaders, provides an opportunity for mayors and representatives to strengthen strategies that will advance their districts' development. A meeting to prepare for public and private investment opportunities, build cross-sectional partnerships with national and international actors, and promote projects that generate jobs, reduce social gaps and strengthen their cultural and productive identities.

Among the challenges that have been developed at this leading forum were: The Panama-David train, an impact on the economic and production development of the country, how to enhance public inclusion in production activities related to the tourism sector and the role of local authorities to facilitate and advance the implementation of projects and agrofood.