US PANAMA

ExpoTrans 2005

U.S.-Panama Business Council

July 18-20, 2005
Panama City, Panama

(General Information)
(Program)
(Expo & Registration Fees)
(Registration Form & Hotel Information)

General Information

Panama is located at the South Eastern end of the isthmus forming the land bridge between North and South America. “The Eighth Wonder of the World,“ the Panama Canal, that joins two important oceans (the Pacific and the Atlantic) has become a bridge of worldwide commerce and the heart of the efficient multi-modal system of transportation of Panama.

Hemispheric Expo-Conference on Multi-modal Transportation

Co-Chairs
His Excellency Samuel Lewis Navarro
1st Vice President & Foreign Minister of Panama
The Honorable Rodney Slater
Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Key Facts

Dollar based economy

Low inflation

International Financial Center with more than 100 banks

Integrated and efficient multi-modal transportation system

Advantages offered by Panama
The advantages Panama offers as a world center for multi-modal transportation are supported by the following:

-     The Panama Canal that links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and is in the process of expanding in order to fit future user requirements

-     Development and modernization of the ports system

-     The Colon Free Zone and its role as a hemispheric logistics center

-     The Trans-Isthmian railroad, connecting the ports in the Pacific and Atlantic       and the cities of Panama and Colon

-     Modernization and expansion of Tocumen international airport and its facilities

-     Construction and connection of the Northern and Southern corridors

-     Second bridge over the Panama Canal and access roads linking Colon with the      western part of Panama

-     Development of Howard Economic Area for international operations

-     Modernization and expansion of the maritime infrastructure and its services to      the international shipping community

-     The cruise lines selection of Panama as a tourist destination, taking advantage      of the development of eco and historical tourism

-     Support provided to the transportation sector through its banking center,
Telecommunications gateway, the Insurance and reinsurance Center,
modern hotels, the merchant marine system, maritime services and the
availability of qualified personnel.

Considering that many of these assets have been recently built, modernized, or in the process of development, and recognizing the vocation of Panama as an international business center, the U.S.-Panama Business Council is hosting ExpoTrans 2005 in July 18-20, 2005 in Panama City, Panama.

The Panama Canal – Expansion of the Canal
The Panama Canal has undertaken steps to implement an ambitious expansion program that will allow the transit of new generation of container, cargo and cruise ships. This multi-billion dollars project will be the cornerstone of Panama’s efforts to consolidate its leadership in the maritime transportation system.

Railroad - Panama Canal Railway
The newly rebuilt state-of-the-art Trans-Isthmian railway links the port terminals on the Atlantic to the port of Balboa in the Pacific. The Panama Canal Railway adds to the increasing efficiency of the multi-modal system of transportation by maximizing transshipment and permitting ships to load and unload at terminal ports, allowing them to have more depth when transiting the Canal.

	Bridges - Bridge of the Americas / Centennial Bridge The road and bridge network that connects the inter-modal system of transportation is being expanded and improved with the second bridge over the Canal -Centennial Bridge- and access roads linking with the Northern and Southern corridors. The investment in the new bridge and access roads, which exceeds $200 million, connects all of the components of the inter-modal system of transportation and provides easy access to the Western part of the country.
	Roads – Northern and Southern Corridors The road network that connects the inter-modal system of transportation is being expanded and improved with access roads, and roads linking the Northern and Southern corridors. The system also connects with the new Centennial Bridge over the Panama Canal.
	Ports Consistent with its historic role when Panama hosted the main ports in the Atlantic and Pacific connecting South America with North America and Europe, the country has developed an impressive port infrastructure for cargo, anchored by MIT, Evergreen, and Cristobal in the Atlantic and Balboa in the Pacific. The port of Colon (Atlantic) has become the #1 container port in Latin America. In addition, Colon 2000 in the Atlantic and developments in the Amador sector in the Pacific provide services to cruise chips.
	Colon Free Zone The Colon Free Zone initiated operations in 1948. It has become the largest free zone in the hemisphere and is now second in the world only to Hong Kong. Originally created with the goal of strengthening Panama’s role as a transportation center and to encourage regional trade, the Colon Free Zone has since developed into a major world logistics center, as well as becoming a significant contributor to the country’s economy. Air Transportation – Tocumen International Airport / Howard Economic Area The International Airport of Tocumen is in the middle of a dramatic modernization and expansion program supported by domestic and international airlines that connect Panama with most capitals in the Americas and some European capitals as well. Howard’s new Economic Area provides Panama with an international hub for specialized cargo and facilities for manufacturing operations oriented to high technology and the export market.

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