Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup. The OAS urges members to invest in Panama. The President of China is coming for a state visit. The 1st annual boat show is coming to town. Plus, we show you the logistics of air travel in Panama. Here’s the latest:
OAS Urges Caribbean Countries to Take Advantage of Panama Canal Expansion
Kicking off a three-day meeting between members of the Organization of American States (OAS) this week, the message was clear: if you want to grow your economy, look to shipping in the Americas. The executive director urged members to take advantage of the Panama Canal expansion, as a new economic boost for the region, and a pillar for future growth.
“This increased capacity not only implies savings for world trade, but has the potential to increase trade between Latin America and the world,” she said.
“The impending expansion of the Panama Canal presents both challenges and opportunities for the entire region,” she added. “This expansion has the potential to stimulate trade in the region and, as we know, has already spurred infrastructure development designed to increase port capacity for large vessels post-Panama.”
Source: Jamaica Observer
Panama International Boat Show opens Friday
The 1st ever Panama International Boat Show kicks off this weekend, and boat enthusiasts couldn’t be more excited. With a well-used inner harbor, islands, and the world’s most famous shipping canal, Panama is the perfect market for this type of event. The boat show runs from Friday, June 20th – Sunday, June 22nd, at the Flamenco Marina in Panama City.
The marina is a flourishing tourist attraction with a wide range of marina amenities, including 238 slips protected by two breakwaters, Wi-Fi and nine onsite restaurants. A new section of the marina has been designated for the show.
In addition to the display of boats in the water and on land, marine accessories and services, attendees will see an impressive car display with a large selection of the latest models from Mercedes-Benz, Dodge and Jeep at the Panama International Boat Show. On Saturday and Sunday, at 4 p.m., Show Management and designer Marcel Kaminstein will present the IfULoveMe Fashion Show, featuring the latest yachting jewelry and swimwear fashion trends.
Source: Trade Only Today
President of China Will Visit Panama
The President of China, Ma Ying-Jeou, is slated for an official state visit to Panama, just in time for the inauguration of the country’s new President, Juan Carlos Varela. The Chinese have had long economic ties with the Panamanian government, and this trip should help to reinforce economic partnerships, as well as open a forum to discuss new ones. This will be the first time a Chinese head of state has visited Panama since 2008.
Ma is scheduled to depart June 29 for Panama, where he will attend the inauguration of President-elect Juan Carlos Varela July 1, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Ko. Ko said that Ma and his delegation will then visit El Salvador, which like Panama has official ties with the Republic of China government in Taipei.
Source: The China Post
Traveling In and Out of Panama by Plane: The Hub of the Americas
Business travel and tourism are booming in Panama, and as a result, transportation companies are stepping up to the plate. It seems like almost monthly there are new direct flight routes added to the major carriers. There is also a network of domestic flights, and short-route flights that are increasing their market presence, and taking on a huge volume of new customers. In our latest blog post, we look at the growth of the airline industry in Panama, and how travel logistics are changing and adapting to this surge.
Since 2012, Copa has added 10 new direct flights to the capital, from major destinations in the US and Latin America. These include Las Vegas, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, Montreal, and Tampa, to name a few. They have also added extra flights to some of their more popular routes, such as New York, Orlando, and Miami, which all have multiple daily non-stops.
Copa’s not alone, either. European carriers such as Iberia and KLM have stepped up to the plate by enhancing their long-haul flights to run more often, and with bigger aircraft to cities in Spain and Holland. As of June 2014, there are 72 cities with non-stop flights serving Panama City, with plans by multiple airlines to add at least 5 more in the next year.
Read more about traveling by plane to and from Panama
