Liquid Biofuels, a comprehensive report produced by IICA with key data from the sector, two countries of the Americas—the United States and Brazil—are the world’s leading producers, accounting for 42 percent and 20 percent of the total, respectively. In addition, the American continent produces 87 percent of global ethanol and has 11 countries that consume it blended with gasoline. Among the different types of liquid biofuels, ethanol has the highest global production (65% of the total), with growing use of corn as a raw material, in addition to sugarcane. IICA also took part in a discussion organized by the Panamanian Industrialists’ Union (SIP) and the Panamanian Sugarcane Industrial Association (AZUCALPA), in which various stakeholders agreed on the need to establish an adequate regulatory framework so that the country can take advantage of the opportunities offered by the production and consumption of ethanol in terms of job creation, economic strengthening and the promotion of development. From AZUCALPA, Rodrigo Cardenal and Cristina Thayer highlighted the importance of the project, underscoring the relevance of IICA’s technical support both for the National Energy Secretariat and for independent producers, not only in the initial stage but over the long term. The Secretary of Energy, Rodrigo Rodríguez, described the economic benefits and the investments that would need to be made to ensure the availability of ethanol and noted that the money currently spent on gasoline imports would remain within the Panamanian economy. From the productive sector, the spokesperson for independent sugarcane producers, Patrocinio Saldaña, said that if the project moves forward, producers could increase their cultivated areas by between 100 percent and 400 percent, incorporating new actors. “Biofuels are consolidating as a key tool, and Panama has significant comparative advantages to develop them. The IICA Delegation in the country is working together with Panama’s public and private sectors to provide technical support for this development and to maximise opportunities so that they translate into more jobs and prosperity”, said Miguel Arvelo, IICA Representative in Panama. IICA leads and serves as the Technical Secretariat of the Pan-American Coalition on Liquid Biofuels (CPBIO), created in 2023 and made up of the main business and industrial associations of the Americas dedicated to the production and processing of sugar, alcohol, corn, sorghum, soybeans, vegetable oil and grains, among other agricultural products. 12 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01
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