Gov. Mike Kehoe says a recent trade mission to Panama focused on strengthening Missouri’s economic and military relationships with the Central American nation.
Speaking with Missourinet in Rolla on Tuesday, Kehoe said members of the Missouri delegation met with Panamanian leaders responsible for agriculture, commerce and the Panama Canal to discuss opportunities for investment and growth.
“We met with all of the ministers of various departments from agriculture and commerce, the minister runs the Panama Canal, to talk about Missouri and what economic benefits we have here for companies that are looking to expand into the states,” Kehoe said.
The governor said the trip’s primary purpose was marking 30 years of partnership between the Missouri National Guard and Panama through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.
“It’s unbelievable how active our guards, men and women are in Panama, how much they rely on them for cyber security, for Panama Canal security, multiple partnerships we visited with down there,” Kehoe said. “It was very inspiring and humbling at the same time. It was a great trip.”
Kehoe also met with Panama’s agriculture minister and said discussions centered on ways Missouri’s agriculture industry could work with Panamanian partners.
“That’s something that obviously we’re very good at. It’s our number one industry and you’re going to see a very quick turnaround on what we’re going to do to try to get involvement with all of our stakeholder groups from the commodity groups as well as the University of Missouri Extension Office on some really good ideas we have that will really help their ag community and help our people back here at home,” Kehoe said.
According to the governor’s office, Panama purchased $17.7 million worth of Missouri exports in 2025, including agricultural products. Missouri and Panama have partnered through the State Partnership Program since 1996.
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