Honorary Consul Profile

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Personal Background:

Nicolás Vukelja Duque, a Panamanian born in 1978, is a descendant of a grandfather who emigrated from Yugoslavia, present-day Croatia, after the inauguration of the Panama Canal in 1914.

In February 2024, he was appointed as the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Panama and has been supporting in diplomatic subjects for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico since 2022.

Role as Honorary Consul:

• In May 2023, Mr. Vukelja met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, H.E. Dmytro Kuleba during a short visit in Panama.

• In August 2023, Mr. Vukelja made his second visit to Kyiv during the war, traveling by bus from Poland to promote commercial relations between the two countries. Mr. Vukelja also established the initiative of creating an interparliamentary relation between Ukraine and Panama. Throughout his 32-day visit, he witnessed the daily missile attacks faced by the courageous Ukrainian people, while striving to maintain a message of positivity and hope.

• In August 2024, he was invited to Kyiv for the annual meeting of Ukraine’s diplomatic missions around the world, with the participation of over 200 Ukrainian ambassadors, consuls, ministers, and officials.

• In October 2024, a historic visit took place where the first delegation from the Ukrainian Parliament visited Panama. The delegation, comprising four Ukrainian parliamentarians, spent four days in Panama. The Honorary Consulate host various meetings and events with the Panama Parliament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Presidency, and the Minister of Commerce. Additionally, a lunch with the seven ambassadors of the European Union in Panama, engaged in four interviews with television and printed local media, and a lunch meeting with 35 prominent Panamanian businessmen. This interparliamentary visit in part was the result of Mr. Vukelja’s initiative in 2023 during his first meeting with the Ukrainian parliament.

• In November 2024, Mr. Vukelja traveled to Kyiv for the fourth time during the war by invitation of the Ukrainian Parliament and the office of the President of Ukraine, H.E. Volodymyr Zelensky. During this 5-day trip, he personally met President Zelensky and participated in important meetings at the Ukrainian Parliament with representatives from 12 other Latin American countries. He also visited various locations in the city of Kyiv impacted by missile strikes. Throughout the visit, daily alarms signaling missile attacks were heard.

Notable Achievement:

• Mr. Vukelja is the first Panamanian invited to the Presidential Palace in Kyiv.
• First Panamanian in the Parliament of Ukraine and has visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
• He has played a pivotal role in promoting 5 major Ukrainian products and brands companies in the Americas, leading to the establishment of the Ukraine Chamber of Commerce in Panama in 2023.
• Since 2021 and for the past 5 years, he has represented the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Kyiv in Panama, fostering stronger economic ties.
• He received a medal of distinction for promoting business opportunities between Ukraine and Panama.
• In June 2023, he organized and celebrated the First Ukrainian Business Forum in Panama, which was attended by over 150 participants, including representatives from embassies, government authorities, and various companies.
• Mr. Vukelja has been interviewed by Ukrainian television and press media and is a point of reference for commercial opportunities between Ukraine and Panama.

Professional Experience: Mr. Vukelja is a shipowner, co-owner, and general manager of a 20-year-old family business involved in maritime, logistics, financial, and investment sectors in Panama. He has held the position of President of the Maritime Chamber of Panama for two terms, serving from 2019 to 2021. The Maritime Chamber of Panama is the most influential chamber in the country, representing 35% of Panama's GDP through over 300 member companies, and has made significant contributions to the country's economy.

International Involvement: He actively contributes to various local and international associations, chambers, and NGOs. Notably, he served as a board member for two terms of the International Bunker Industry Association, headquartered in London, which represents over 40% of marine fuel sales worldwide. He has also been a board director of the Panama Financial Association from 2020 to 2022.

Advisory Role: Mr. Vukelja has previously provided advice to several ministries in Panama, including the Presidency, Commerce, Agriculture, the Panama Canal Authority, Foreign Affairs, and Panamanian Parliamentarians from a private sector perspective. He is recognized by local and international media as an authority on Maritime, Logistics, Finance, and Ukraine topics in Panama.

Personal Interests: In his leisure time, he enjoys golfing, fishing, working out at the gym, practicing martial arts, and riding motorcycles.

"Your morals and ethics will always define you."