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For Immediate Release |
Contact: Kimberly Crocker
Phone: 301-3881
E-mail: [email protected]
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PANAMA CITY—January 31, 2012—Luis Laguerre launched his presidency at AMCHAM’s Installation dinner this evening at the Riu Hotel. The event was attended by well over 200 AMCHAM members and leading figures of both the U.S. and Panamanian governments. In assistance was a complete assembly of AMCHAM’s Board of Directors: Eyda Varela de Chinchilla, General Manager of Esso Standard Oil, and the Chamber’s Vice President; Maria Eugenia Fonseca, Executive Director of DBM Panama, and Treasurer for 2012; Mercedes Morris, Director of External Relations from Minera Panama, as AMCHAM’s Secretary; David Carius, Regional Manager for Caterpillar Inc.; Rene Van Horde, General Manager of GBM de Panama; Annette Cardenas, Marketing Director of Panama Marriott Hotel; Gerald Gomez, General Manager of Procter & Gamble Latin America Development Markets; Marcelo Gorrini, CEO and General Manager of Citibank, N.A. in Panama; Robert Baker, President of Mi Oportunidad; JuliAnne Murphy, Marketing Director for London & Regional Panama; Fidel Reyes, Director & CEO from FR Consulting ; Thomas Kenna, President of Panama Railway Company; and Daniel T. Crocker, Commercial Counselor from the U.S. Embassy.
The evening began with comments from Juan Carlos Arias, outgoing AMCHAM president for 2011 and ended with a speech by Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Panama, Mr. Ricardo Quijano.
Luis Laguerre, in his speech, spoke of the need for transparency and fairness in the marketplace and strongly supported public/private partnerships to improve Panama’s economy. “We are advocates of trade facilitation and fairness in business dealings, so the efforts towards improving in the areas of intellectual property protection, the fight against counterfeit and other unfair practices will also serve as elements of our work during the coming year,” he said.
He went on to state, “However, any effort to generate more business is empty if it does not drive social well-being and economic development. … As a country, we need solid companies that generate prosperity on a sustainable fashion. This cannot be accomplished without considering the communities in which companies operate. Corporate Social Responsibility … goes beyond the business objectives of the organizations, and their practices should aim to foster a better climate of prosperity by being good corporate citizens, respecting the interest of their investors, clients, suppliers, employees and the integrity of the environment.”