Panama Marriott Hotel
Salon Campo Alegre
Panama City
8:00a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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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
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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
