Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Panama Maritime XII Gathers Global Industry Leaders
Panama is still growing when it comes to international conferences and conventions, and this year is already shaping up to be huge for this sector of the tourism industry. Panama is already a leader in shipping and maritime business, and this April, the leaders of the industry will converge on Panama for one of the industry’s biggest conferences.
Panama will become the maritime capital of the world from April 12 to 15, 2015, when the Panama Maritime XII Conference and Exhibition is held, organized by the Panama Chamber of Shipping (CMP), the Panamanian Maritime Law Association (APADEMAR) the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP).
It will take place at the Megapolis Convention Center in Panama City. The event, which has attracted extraordinary interest in the maritime industry prior to the forthcoming opening of the expanded Canal, is inspired by the motto, “Panama: Changing Dynamics of World Trade”. Entities that organize Panama Maritime XII pointed out that “Panama will become regional leader in the supply chain and logistics, but all countries are preparing to tap the growing benefit it will give trade”.
Source: The Bulletin Panama
Could US, Cuba fully restore ties by April Summit of the Americas?
The Summit of the Americas is coming up this April, and one of its biggest stories will be the potential mending of relations between the United States and Cuba. The summit, organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) is held every three years in an American (continental) host country. This will be the organization’s 7th summit, and a historic one, due to the political circumstances and attendees.
Diplomatic ties were severed in 1961, and negotiators for the two longtime adversaries will meet in Washington on Friday, following up on the first round of talks held in Havana last month.
If the sides move fast enough, they could reopen embassies in each other’s capitals in time for the April 10-11 summit in Panama, where U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro could meet for the first time since agreeing on Dec. 17 to restore ties and exchange prisoners.
Source: The Christian Science Monitor
Massive Panama Canal Expansion Enters Final Phase
After years of hard work, and months of delays, the multi-billion dollar Canal Expansion Project is nearing completion. It has been a long and tough process for all involved, but the fruits of Panama’s labor should be massive when the full expansion goes into effect. To get a better idea of exactly how much work went into this most recent Canal project, check out this great footage from NBC News.
Source: NBC News
Panama is Becoming a Premier Destination for Conferences and Events
Panama’s conference and event tourism sector is surging. In fact, so much so, that it’s surpassing casual tourism by a landslide as far as visitors go. This is something that Panama’s well aware of, and willing to take advantage of while they can. Some of the biggest conferences and events in the region are now being booked for all over Panama, and the reasons are plentiful for the surge. In one of our latest blog posts, we explain why, and what it means to the local economy.
Some of the major reasons for this surge are tied in directly with other aspects of the tourism boom, including an increase in available flights, hotel rooms, and event space. It’s also no secret that Panama is becoming a well-known destination for more affordable luxury travel; something that event organizers look for when booking major conferences.
In 2015 alone, Panama has already hosted two major beer festivals; a regional small business forum attended by world economic leaders, and one of the biggest EDM music festivals in the Americas. In April, Panama will also host the Summit of the Americas, which will be historic as it will mark the first time the US and Cuban presidents will meet face-to-face in over 50 years.
Read more about Panama as a conference destination
