Panama, September 4 - Panama writes a new chapter in its cultural history with the official launch of the Citizens's Consultation for the production of the first National Plan of Cultures 2025-2032. That unprecedented process will allow for the participatory construction of public policy that will place culture as an engine for social, economic and sustainable development in the country.

The National Cultures Plan was the first national cultural Roadmap, built collectively to guarantee cultural rights, strengthen governance and project culture as a strategic pillar for sustainable human development.

The Citizens' Consultation begins on September 8 and will be conducted throughout the country, with face and face to face with virtual participation by artists, artisans, managers, entrepreneurs, educators, communities and civil society. Their inputs will be crucial to defining how best to describe the path for those who preserve traditions and at the same time to promote cultural and creative industries as a source of employment, sustainability and innovation for youth.

The contest will soon be open for the selection of an official logo for the National Plan for Cultures 2025-2032 and its bases will be available from the website of the Ministry of Culture.

The Minister of Culture emphasized that "culture is an identity, memory, social cohesion and also an economy. That plan will allow us to recognize the wealth of our cultural heritage but also to project Panama as an international reference point in creativity and sustainability."

The process forms part of a regional and international leadership framework. Panama currently holds the pro tempore Chair of the Coordination of Culture and Education of Central America and Dominican Republic (CCEC-SICA) and will be a leading player at the UNESCO's World Cultural Policy Conference, Mondiacult 2025, where it will share its cultural vision and leadership with the international community.

That effort was made possible by the impetus of the National Government, led by President José Raúl Mulino, who called for culture as a fundamental right and a strategic pillar of sustainable development.

The Ministry of Culture invites all citizens to participate actively in this process, adding ideas and proposals that will shape the first National Plan of Cultures, an instrument that will reflect diversity, strengthen identity and open new ways to a more inclusive and prosperous Panama.

Similarly, virtual consultations will be available at the website of the Ministry of Culture as from next week and will facilitate the participation of all citizens.