Michael Chen (businessman and politician)

Michael Andrew Chen Fong (born April 20, 1987) is a Panamanian businessman, civic leader, and independent politician serving as the youngest president of Panama's oldest Chamber of Commerce, the Colon Chamber of Commerce for the 2022–2023 term. In 2023, he was selected as one of the vice-presidential candidates to run in Panama's 2024 general elections.

Early life and education

Michael Andrew Chen Fong was born on April 20, 1987, in the Republic of Panama. Chen is a native of Colón and hails from a family of Chinese descent that has been established in the province of Colón for over three generations. He completed his primary and secondary education at the Caribbean International School in Colón.

Pursuing higher education, he earned a degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Career

After graduating from the University of Southern California, Chen returned to his hometown and took the helm of his family's department store, Grupo Vanidades, the oldest in Colón.

Prior to joining Grupo Vanidades, Chen served stints at the financial company Northwestern Mutual and the tech company Larta Institute. He went on to serve as director and vice president of the Colón Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, and Industries. In February 2022, he became the youngest president of the Colon Chamber of Commerce, the oldest in Panama.

Under his leadership, the chamber launched the "El cambio comienza por mí" ("Change Begins With Me") initiative, supported by the United Nations. This project aimed to harness the strengths of Colón's residents and improve the province's conditions.

Political career

In October 2023, Michael Chen was announced as the vice-presidential candidate for the Movimiento Otro Camino (MOCA) party, running as an independent politician alongside presidential candidate Ricardo Lombana for the 2024 Panamanian elections.

Chen's dedication to community service and development has been recognized through several awards, including the Guillermo Andreve Medal from the Ministry of Education, the "Premio al Aporte Transcendental de la Juventud" from the Ministry of Social Development, and the "Huellas del Istmo" award from the University of the Isthmus.

References