Panama, July 20, 2021.- The Ministry of Culture (MiCultura) and the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) have established a framework partnership convention with a view to promoting and cooperating with member states in activities aimed at raising educational, scientific, technological and cultural standards.

The agreement aims at encouraging strengthening cultural cooperation through the development of creative industries and sustainable development goals as well as issues of inclusion, cultural rights, human rights, interculturality, innovation, inclusion and gender equality, in all activities, programmes, projects or initiatives to be undertaken.

Carlos Aguilar Navarro, head of the Cultural portfolio, emphasized that for the entity this firm is very important, because at "our meeting of the OEI where we participate with the ministers of culture of the region, we propose initiatives related to the social responsibility of Ibero-American companies to the cultural issue."

The Minister of Culture highlighted as an example the project of the Panama National Network of Youth Orchestra and Choirs, where, despite the situation of a pandemic, the number of children and youth have grown.
Melissa Wong Sagel, director of OEI Panama emphasized that with this agreement we achieve cooperation for Panama in the fields of education and culture especially in early childhood and social inclusion.

He added that it's "clear known that culture is directly linked with social development and therefore aims to support each and every public policy that the national government has drawn up through the Ministry of Culture on this path."

That convention also formalizes a common interest in promoting cooperation in the fields of material and intangible cultural heritage, including personal training and technical exchange with a view to improving their skills.

Also interested are subregional and Ibero-American exchanges for educational, research and counselling purposes with regard to issues related to both institutions.

The signatories of this partnership, Carlos Aguilar Navarro, Minister of Culture and Melissa Wong Sagel, Director of OEI, were accompanied by members of his work team, MiCultura Alexandra Schjelderup, Director of International Cooperation and María Luisa Lindo, Director of Legal Advice while from OEI and Rosa Brooks, Multilateral Affairs Officer.

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