More than 100 companies from the State of Georgia had the opportunity to learn of the investment and business opportunities between Panama and the city of Atlanta thanks to the trade mission organized by the American Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Panama (AmCham) in alliance with Delta Airlines.
The mission counted with the participation of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Melitón Arrocha; the Minister of Canal Affairs and Secretary of the Panama Metro, Roberto Roy, the Deputy Mayor of the district of Panama, Raisa Bainfield; and the Administrator of the Panama Pacific Agency, the Executive Director of the City of Knowledge and around 30 Panamañian businessmen.
During two days, the mission focused their efforts in three areas with real business opportunities: Logistics, Tourism and Research and Development (R+D).
“The trade missions seek to make the most out of the current Trade Promotion Agreement with the United States. We went to Atlanta with the firm commitment of putting Panama´s name aloft and inform of Panama´s potential as an ally and business partner” said Robert St. John, President of AmCham.
The mission included visits to the mayor business hubs in Atlanta such as the headquarters of Delta Airlines, CNN, Coca-Cola, UPS, as well as, the Hartfield Jackson airport, the Atlanta Convention Center and the Enterprise Innovation Institute of the University of Georgia Tech. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Georgia Foreign Trade Zone and the Business Promotor Council of Free Zones in Panama (COEMPROZONAS with acronym in Spanish) was signed.
Businessmen from the State of Georgia had the opportunity to learn about the advantages of investing in Panama and Latin America in the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce having as main speakers the Minister of Commerce and Industries who offered the trade and economic prospects of the country, the Minister of Canal Affairs who presented the advances of the Panama Canal Expansion and gave a general vision of its commercial benefits during the lunch “Panama: Growing Your Business in Latin America”.
The event concluded with a panel of leaders of Panama´s special economic zones who explained how these areas work and how the companies can benefit once they are set up in these zones.
Thanks for their participation in this trade mission, both the Minister Arrocha and the Minister Roy were interviewed by the CNN international chain in Spanish in the Global Porfolio and CNN Money programs.
Foreign trade has become an increasingly important component in the economic development of Panama and it is a commitment for AmCham to work with its regional partners to increase the export activity and Foreign Direct Investment –FDI– between Panama and the United States.