Strengthening the Trade Ties that Bind

Published April 29, 2009

As an entrepreneur who ran a successful leather goods business for 10 years, Panamanian Ambassador Romy Vasquez de Gonzalez arrived in Ottawa in early 2005 focused on expanding business and trade relations between her country and Canada—relations she says are fundamental to any diplomatic relationship.

"New ambassadors today do need to handle international trade more," Ms. Vasquez says. "To...