8:00a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Panama Marriott Hotel
Salon Campo Alegre
Panama City

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2012 Latin American Cities Conferences: Panama City

On March 2 AS/COA hosted it's annual Panama City conference, this year focused on economic development, infrastructure investment, and the country´s burgeoning tourism sector.

8:00a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Panama Marriott Hotel
Salon Campo Alegre
Panama City

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Overview

For the third consecutive year, AS/COA, together with the World Bank, the Ministry of the Presidency, and the country's Tourism Authority, organized a conference on March 2, 2012 to provide an in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities for development in Panama. The conference focused on the country’s economic prospects, growth and opportunities of the financial services and tourism sector, and the country’s trade agenda. A group of internationally recognized senior business executives, government officials, economists and investment analysts addressed the issues for conference participants.

Panama continues to be one of the fastest growing economies of the world. For the past 2 years, the country has grown at an average of 8 percent, and this year it is expected to perform strongly, underpinned by the ongoing expansion of the Canal and other large infrastructure projects. At 4.5 percent, Panama has the lowest unemployment rate of the region, and in 2010 it became the largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) per capita in Latin America. The recently approved FTA with the United States, Panama’s main trading partner, will  enhance the already robust trade portfolio and will likely attract more FDI, particularly in the services industry.

Speakers:
 
  • H.E. Demetrio Papadimitriu, Minister of the Presidency
  • H.E. Roberto Henriquez, Minister of Foreign Relations
  • H.E. Frank de Lima, Minister of Finance and Economy
  • H.E. Salomon Shamah, Director, Panama’s Tourism Authority
  • Alberto Alemán Zubieta, President of the Panama Canal Authority
  • Felipe Jaramillo, Central America Director, The World Bank
  • Augusto de la Torre, Chief Economist for Latin America, The World Bank
  • Paul Adán, Vice President, Hotel Development, Caribbean & Latin American Region, Marriott International & Ritz-Carlton
  • Annette Cárdenas, President, Panama Chamber of Tourism
  • Marcelo Gorrini, CEO and General Manager, Citibank Panama
  • Yosbel A. Ibarra, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  • Joe Mohan, VP Commercial and Planning, Copa Airlines
  • Leslie O'Connor, Deputy Assistant USTR for Central America and the Dominican Republic, USA
  • John Paul Rathbone, Latin America Editor, Financial Times
  • Roberto Sifón Arevalo, Managing Director, Lead Analytical Manager, Sovereigns & Public Finance Ratings, Latin America, Standard & Poors
  • Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

 

 

Agenda

All times are Eastern Standard Time. See the time in your location.

8:00 a.m. Coffee and Registration

8:30 a.m. Welcoming Remarks:

  • Demetrio Papadimitriu, Ministry of the Presidency of Panama
  • Susan Segal, President and CEO, AS/COA
  • Felipe Jaramillo, Central America Director, The World Bank

9:00 a.m. Conversation: Free Trade Agreements and Investment Opportunities

  • What is Panama’s trade agenda and how is the country capitalizing from its geographic location and hub status?
  • How will the recently approved U.S.-Panama FTA impact the country? Who are the most likely winners and losers?
  • What changes with the Panama-U.S. FTA?
  • Opening speaker: Roberto Henriquez, Minister of Foreign Relations, Panama
  • Leslie O’Connor, Deputy Assistant, USTR for Central America and the Dominican Republic
  • Moderator: Yosbel Ibarra, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLC

10:00 a.m. Coffee Break

10:30 a.m. Latin American Long-Term Growth: Made in China?

  • Keynote Speaker: Augusto de la Torre, Chief Economist for Latin America, The World Bank
     

11:00 a.m. Panama’s Economic and Financial Outlook

  • What is Panama’s economic outlook for 2012 and beyond?
  • How has the financial services industry grown in Panama and what are its prospects?
  • Keynote Opening Speaker: Frank de LimaMinister of Finance and Economy, Panama
  • Roberto Sifón Arevalo, Managing Director, Sovereigns & Public Finance Ratings, Latin America, Standard & Poor’s
  • Marcelo Gorrini, CEO and General Manager, Citibank Panama
  • Moderator: John Paul Rathbone, Latin America Editor, Financial Times

12:15 p.m. Lunch: Panama Canal Overview

  • What is the status of the expansion?
  • What role does the expansion of the Panama Canal play in the country’s economic prospects?
  • Keynote Speaker: Alberto Alemán Zubieta, President of the Panama Canal Authority
     

2:00 p.m. Panama: The Tourism Sector Outlook

  • How does Tourism contribute to Panama’s economy and what are its growth prospects for the next years?
  • What are the main challenges for improving the Tourism industry in the country? Are there ways that the public and private sector can collaborate to to address them?
  • What are the some of major projects underway?
  • Keynote Speaker: Salomón Shamah, Director of Panama’s Tourism Agency
  • Joe Mohan, Vice President, Commercial and Planning, Copa Holdings S.A.
  • Paul Adán, Vice President, Hotel Development Caribbean & Latin America, Marriot International & Ritz-Carlton
  • Moderator: Annette Cárdenas, President of the Panama Chamber of Tourism

Speakers

Paul Adán
Vice President, Hotel Development, Caribbean & Latin American Region, Marriott International & Ritz-Carlton

Paul Adán is the vice president of Lodging Development for Marriott International Inc. and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company for the Caribbean and Latin America region. Mr. Adán is responsible for hotel development of all the brands for Latin America (excluding Mexico and Brazil)...

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Alberto Alemán Zubieta
President of the Panama Canal Authority

Alberto Alemán Zubieta is the CEO of the Panama Canal Authority. The Board of Directors re-elected Mr. Zubieta to lead the Panama Canal Authority for another seven years in 2005 after previously serving as Administrator since 1998. Prior to that, he served as Administrator of the...

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Annette Cárdenas
President, Panama Chamber of Tourism

Annette Cárdenas is currently the president of the Chamber of Tourism of Panama. She is also the marketing and sales director of Hotel Marriott Panama, which she joined in 1988, working for the Marriott Dadeland in Miami, Florida. Annette has over 34 years’ experience in the...

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Augusto de la Torre
Director, Economics Research Center, Universidad de las Américas, Ecuador

Augusto de la Torre was recently the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Latin American and the Caribbean. Before his appointment as the region’s chief economist, de la Torre was a senior advisor responsible for financial matters in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since joining the...

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Frank de Lima
Minister of Finance and Economy, Panama

Frank de Lima is Panama’s minister of finance and economy and served as deputy minister of economy during the period from July 1, 2009 until September 30, 2011, when he was appointed by the President of the Republic. He served as service sector coordinator in the Public Policy...

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Marcelo Gorrini
CEO and General Manager, Citibank Panama

Marcelo Gorrini is the CEO and general manager of Citibank Panama, responsible for commercial and corporate business, personal banking, and the credit card unit of the bank.  He assumed his present position in January of 2008. His international banking career began in 2000 in La...

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Roberto C. Henríquez
Minister of Foreign Relations, Panama

Roberto C. Henríquez is the Minister of Foreign Affairs since September of 2011. Previously he served as Minister of Commerce and Industry. He is the Vice President of the ruling political party, Cambio Democrático and was vice presidential candidate of President Martinelli’s...

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Joe Mohan
VP Commercial and Planning, Copa Airlines

Joe Mohan has been vice president of commercial and planning with Copa Airlines since February 2008. Prior to joining Copa, he was the senior vice president of sales at American Land Lease and held several senior positions at Continental Airlines. Mr. Mohan received an M.B.A...

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Leslie C. O'Connor
Deputy Assistant USTR for Central America and the Dominican Republic, USA

Leslie C. O’Connor is deputy assistant United States trade representative for Central America and the Dominican Republic. She is responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing U.S. trade policy for the region, including responsibility for the Dominican Republic-Central...

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Demetrio Papadimitriu
Minister of the Presidency, Panama

Demetrio Papadimitriu has served as the Minister of the Presidency of Panama since May 2009 and was previously the head of President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal’s presidential campaign. He has been involved in politics, both in the United States and Latin America, since 1993. In...

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John Paul Rathbone
Latin America Editor, Financial Times

John Paul Rathbone is currently the Financial Times’ Latin American editor, and a former editor of the FT’s prestigious “Lex” column. He worked as an economist and a journalist at the World Bank. His articles have appeared in many publications including The Wall Street Journal...

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Susan Segal
President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

Susan Segal was elected president and CEO of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas in August 2003 after working in the private sector with Latin America and other emerging markets for over 30 years. A passionate supporter of Latin America, she joined the organizations...

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Salomón Shamah
Director, Panama’s Tourism Authority

Salomón Shamah is the general administrator of Panama’s Tourism Authority since July 2009. He represents the country as the minister of tourism and serves as the pro tempore President of the Secretaría de Integración Turística Centroamericana (SITCA), a group that includes of all...

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Yosbel A. Ibarra
Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Yosbel A. Ibarra represents clients on international corporate transactions, including multinational corporations and prominent Latin American investors on their investments, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures throughout Latin America and the United States. He also...

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