On the occasion of 110th anniversary of Independence

Panama hosts National Day party
and a seminar on Panama Canal

Ambassador and Mrs. Aram B. Cisneros Naylor of the Republic of Panama hosted a reception at The Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul on Nov. 14, 2013 in celebration of the 110th anniversary of the Independence of Panama. Earlier on the same afternoon, there was a Morgan & Morgan seminar on the theme of ‘Panama Connecting the World.’

Speaking to the guests at the reception, Ambassador Cisneros said that Panama accounts for 24% of the total ship tonnage of the world and that the country leads the world ship registry with 9,000 ship owners around the world favoring Panama reposing full trust in the safety, fame and high-quality service provided by us. Ship owners of the Republic of Korea have a very important position among them.

Panama, according to Ambassador Cisneros, was born as a bridge and a connecting link between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean with a length of only 80 kilometers. Then he said that Panama was the passing route for the convoy of donkeys that carried the gold of Peru to Spain from 1606 to 1739 and that such special geographical features made Panama an important hub of international commerce and trade. (See excerpts from the speech at the end of this report translated from a Korean-language text.)

Attending the reception were many ambassadors and key executives and members of Korean business organizations as well as from the Panamanian Embassy and Delegation.

Among them were Ambassadors Ceferino Adrian Valdez Peralta of Paraguay, Jose Luis Bernal of Mexico, Grecia Fiodalicia Pichardo of Dominican Republic, Hernan Brantes Glavic of Chile, Michel Idiaquez Baradat of Honduras, Alba Rosa Florio Legnani of Uruguay, Antonio Quintero Nobre of Portugal, Jorge Roballo of Argentina, Luis Arias Romero of Spain, Jaime Antonio of Peru, Nicolas Fabian Trujillo Newlin of Ecuador, Guadalupe Palomeque de Taboada of Bolivia, Manuel Lopez Trigo of Costa Rica and Yadira Hidalgo de Ortiz of Venezuela (charge d’affaires).

From the Panamanian side, besides Ambassador Cisneros, were Commercial Attache & Vice Consul Juan Jose Garcia Garcia of the Embassy of Panama, Juan David Morgan Jr. of Morgan & Morgan and Lady Lawyer Ms. Jazina Roviof Morgan & Morgan.

The Korean guests and the members of the Panamanian Delegation also attended the seminar held at the same hotel earlier in the afternoon of the day.
General Info about Panama:

3.5 million inhabitants, 77 thousand square kilometers, Average GDP growth the last 15 years - 6%, GDP per capita 2011 - US$20,000. The Colon Free Zone (Atlantic Ocean) is the second largest free zone in the world.

General Information about the Panama Canal:

Built from 1904 to 1914 (two sets of locks). Operated by the United States from 1914 to 1999. Operated by Panama since 2000, has provided more revenue to the Panamanians from 2000 to 2012, than in 85 years of United States operation. Expansion (a third set of locks for a total of 5.2 billion dollars) started in 2007. Its completion was scheduled for August 2014 and has been rescheduled to June 2015. Will allow 13,000 ~ 14,000 TEU vessels (many built in Ulsan and Goeje), to cross oceans efficiently and economically.

About Ambassador Cisneros:

Graduated in 1990 from Pan American Institute as Bilingual Business Bachelor with a specialization in Accounting. Later, majored in Marketing, at Universidad. Santa Maria La Antigua Panama (USMA) in 1995.

Recently obtained two postgraduate degrees: one in Marketing of Services and another in Management, both from Alta Direccion Escuela de Negocios (ADEN).

Mister Cisneros’ assorted career comprises seven areas.

Economic Consulting
- Arden & Price Consulting.
- Platinum Consulting.
Business Consulting
- Arce Avicola.
- Moore Stephens.
- Panamanian Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Human Resources Capacity Building
- Tecnologia Aplicada, S.A.
- Panamanian Association of Business Executives.
- Asian Development Bank.

Excerpts from the speech of Ambassador Cisneros
(translated into English from a Korean-language text):
In 1855, Panama became the route of transportation of the Californian gold by railroad to the East Coast of the United States. From 1904 to 1914, the existing two locking gates of the Panama Canal were used by various ships of the world between the two Oceans.

The Panama Canal today is undergoing expansion and modernization to meet the increasing volume of service, including the construction of the third locking gate which is slated for completion in the first half of 2015.

The expanded Panama Canal will successfully meet various new requirements of the maritime trade transportation, which includes successful satisfaction of the requirements of service for large ships such as those constructed by the Republic of Korea.

Panama tops the world in terms of ship registry accounting for 24% of the total tonnage of the world ships.

The Embassy of Panama in Korea serves you in ship registry, management of seamen and maritime transportation safety. Safety of maritime transportation is the work performed by the Director General of the Maritime Transporation Bureau of the Panama Maritime Authority.

The seminar this afternoon was planned and hosted by the famed law firm of Panama named Morgan & Morgan who has a history and experience of 90 years for the purpose of serving the ship owners of Korea.

Maritime transportation is closely related with the state of economy. For instance, demand and supply of coal, gas, containers, petroleum and frozen products affect the fare and revenue of the shipping business companies.

One of the proverbs I like reads: “Qualification of a ship captain can be determined only when he is tested by an angry sea.” This wise-saying of the shipping world can also apply to other businesses. This proverb also shows the difficult reality of the maritime transportation industry faced today. I will say that you are all successfully sailing overcoming the angry sea and for this I would like to offer you my sincere congratulations.

Celebrating the 110th anniversary of the Independence of Panama, I would like to take this opportunity to assure you once again that we are ready at all times to serve you. Gamsahamnida. k

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