The Sentient Group | Speeches
Ambassador Roberto Alfaro Estripeaut
(Panama City – 7 November, 2011)
Roberto Alfaro Estripeaut is a Senior Partner of Interglobal Busisness Brokers (IBB)
Business Broker and Risk Management assessment group. He was Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Panama to the United States from December
2002 until September 2004. Prior to this nomination, Ambassador Alfaro served as
Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Panama to Italy and Ambassador to the Republic of
Malta from 1999-2002.
Entering public service in 1990, Ambassador Alfaro served as Vice Minister of Commerce,
Energy and Industry before being appointed Minister of Commerce, Energy and Industry
from 1991 to 1994. During his tenure, he also served as Chairman of the Board of
the Panamanian Tourism Institute (IPAT), the Panamanian Port Authority (currently
known as the Maritime Authority), and the Colon Free Zone (largest Commercial Park
in the world). During his years as Minister, he also stood as President of the Panamanian
Stock Exchange Commission and the Executive Committee on Insurance and Re-Insurance.
He also served as Chairman of the Commission of Energy and Mines from 1990 to 1994,
as well as being a member of the National Economic Council (CENA).
Ambassador Alfaro has had extensive experience in the private sector, serving as
General Manager (CEO) for Alford, SA., and as CEO of Financiera de Seguros, S.A.
from 1981 to 1997. During 1998-99, Ambassador Alfaro was CEO for Proexport International
Development. Inc, Treasurer of the Board of the Panamanian Energy Corporation, S.A.
and Chairman of the Board of Aseguradora La Union SA. He presently is Chairman of
Nacional de Seguros, SA. In addition, he served as Director of the Panamanian Chamber
of Commerce and Industry and as Chairman of the Board to The Chamber of Insurance
Brokers of Panamá, The National Association of Agricultural Distributors (ANDIA),
the Association of Executives of Panamá, (APEDE) and presently United States-Panamá
Business Council (USPA).
Ambassador Alfaro was born in Panama City, Panama on December 16, 1943. He graduated
from San Agustin School, Panama, in 1961, and attended the George Washington University
English Language Center in Washington, D.C. Afterwards he studied Liberal Arts at
the Panama Canal Zone College 1964-65. In addition, he holds an Insurance Specialist
diploma from the Center of Studies for Insurance Administration (ASSA) a Risk Management
training from the Center of Higher Studies in Administration of Insurance and Reinsurance
(IESA – Venezuela) and a diploma in Social Responsibility from the Instituto Tecnologico
de Monterrey (Mexico).
Martin Feldstein