2016 Panama Investment Conference

November 16, 2016

Registration: 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Panel Discussion: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p...

AS/COA

680 Park Avenue

New York

Live broadcast

Overview

Follow the discussion on Twitter: #PanamaInvest | @ASCOA
Follow Augusto Arosemena's presentation.

AS/COA—in partnership with Panama’s Commerce and Industry Ministry, the Panama Trade & Investment Agency (Proinvex), and the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama—is pleased to present the 2016 Panama Investment Conference, featuring a keynote address by Augusto Arosemena, commerce and industry minister, and the participation of Dulcidio de la Guardia, economy and finance minister, and Alvaro Alemán, minister of the presidency.

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), Panama is the sixth fastest-rising economy in the globe, with projected GDP growth above 6 percent through the end of the decade with solid macro- and microeconomic fundamentals. Foreign direct investment (FDI) constitutes 10 percent of Panama's current GDP, and the country is receiving close to half of all incoming FDI to Central America, facilitated by a financial services market that is ranked 12th worldwide by the WEF. Globalization and deepening economic integration and interdependence are fostering a new era of international relations and transparency in transnational business.

This strategic, invitation-only event will bring together senior government officials, investors, and international and national business leaders for a forward-looking and insightful discussion on Panama’s investment opportunities and the country's position as a hub for global multimodal logistics and distribution activities.

Confirmed Speakers:*

Alvaro Alemán, Minister of the Presidency, Panama
Dulcidio de la Guardia, Minister of Economy and Finance, Panama @ddelaguardia @MEFPANAMA
Augusto Arosemena, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Panama @A_Arosemena_M @MICIPTY (Download his presentation)
Emanuel Arturo González-Revilla, Panamanian Ambassador to the U.S. @EmbPanama_US
Aristides Chiriatti, General Manager of Colon Import & Export, and President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Panama
Bernerd Da Santos, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, The AES Corporation @TheAESCorp
Joseph Fidanque III, General Manager, Tocumen
Leo González, Administrator, Agencia Panamá Pacífico @LeoLgonzalez @APP_GOB_PA
James Hardy, Executive Vice President of Global Operations, Under Armour
Thomas Kenna, President, Panama Canal Railway and Chairman, Association of American Chambers of Commerce of Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA)
Daniel Korn, Director of Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Latin America @MicrosoftLatam
Sandra Miró, Country Manager, DHL Panama
Ragnhild Melzi, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
Luis Eduardo Ocando, Senior Partner, EY Panamá
Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas @s_segal
Jose A. Zapata, General Manager for Central America & The Caribbean, Delta Air Lines

*Additional speakers to be confirmed.

This event is by invitation only. Space is limited.
Register at rsvp@as-coa.org

In partnership with:

Agenda

Download a PDF of the agenda.

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Registration and Coffee

8:30 – 8:40 a.m. Welcoming Remarks

Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
Thomas Kenna, Chairman, Association for American Chambers of Commerce of Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA)

8:40 – 9:00 a.m. Keynote: Economic Overview

Augusto Arosemena, Minister of Commerce and Industry (Download his presentation)

9:00 – 9:55 a.m. Panel: The Business Environment in Panama

Augusto Arosemena, Minister of Commerce and Industry
Alvaro Alemán, Minister of the Presidency
Dulcidio de la Guardia, Minister of Economy and Finance
Ragnhild Melzi, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (moderator)

Questions for discussion: What steps is Panama taking on policy and public investment to facilitate international trade and to further integrate its international services platform into global value chains? How is Panama strengthening its international financial services sector to meet the needs of local investors, transnational operators, and the international community? How is Panama’s government working in tandem with the private sector and academia to meet development challenges and expand opportunities for private investment? How is Panama capitalizing on logistics’ growing role in shaping the future of the country, while working to ensure sustained economic growth and further socioeconomic development?

9:55 – 10:55 a.m. Panel: International Strategic Investors and Multinational Regional Operations in Panama

Bernerd Da Santos, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, The AES Corporation
Leo González, Administrator, Agencia Panamá Pacífico
James Hardy, Executive Vice President of Global Operations, Under Armour
Luis Eduardo Ocando, Senior Partner, EY Panamá (moderator)

Questions for discussion: What factors attract U.S.-based and international firms to develop projects like shared services, energy projects, distribution and logistics operations, infrastructure megaprojects, and more? Why is Panama, a relatively small economy with about 4 million people, swiftly becoming a Latin American powerhouse for investment attraction and an advantageous platform for serving regional and global markets? How are companies using Panama’s unique advantages and benefits to facilitate business in Latin America and beyond?

10:55 – 11:10 a.m. Coffee Break

11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Panel: The Role of Information Technology in Logistics

Aristides Chiriatti, General Manager of Colon Import & Export, and President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Panama
Sandra Miró, Country Manager, DHL Panama
Jose A. Zapata, General Manager, Central America and the Caribbean, Delta Air Lines
Joseph Fidanque III, General Manager, Tocumen
Daniel Korn, Director of Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Latin America (moderator)

Questions for discussion: What are Panama’s unique connectivity advantages, and how are public- and private-sector leaders benefitting from Panama’s role as a bridge nation? How is Panama leveraging innovation and new technology to compete as a top-tier logistics center and further develop opportunities for investors in the sector?

12:10 – 12:30 p.m. Keynote