January 19-22 Louisiana Trade Mission to Panama

The World Trade Center, in conjunction with Louisiana Economic Development, the Port of New Orleans, and the City of New Orleans organized a major 47-member Louisiana Trade Mission to Panama January 19-22, 2005.

The purpose of the mission was to promote Louisiana’s trade, transportation, tourism, educational, and other reciprocal interests with Panama.  The co-leaders of the mission were Michael Olivier, Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development; Gary LaGrange, President of the Port of New Orleans; Don Hutchinson, Executive Assistant to the Mayor for Economic Development, and Director of the Office of Economic Development, City of New Orleans; and Charles Nelson, 2005 WTC President and Chairman of Waldemar S. Nelson & Co., Inc., engineers and consultants.

This was the fourth such mission from Louisiana to a Central American country in recent years.  Panama has a vibrant economy and offers numerous opportunities for Louisiana companies in many sectors. 

In addition to high-level briefings and business meetings, the mission agenda featured:

• A special orientation on the operations of the Panama Canal – one of the world’s great engineering feats -- through which approximately one-fourth of the Port of New Orleans’ total cargo transits – followed by a reception hosted by the Panama Canal Authority at its magnificent new Visitors Center at the Miraflores Locks.

• A reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador Linda Watt at her residence for the members of our delegation to meet prominent Panamanian officials and business, professional, and cultural leaders. The typically Louisiana menu for the reception was prepared by Chef Keith Faulkner of the WTC’s Plimsoll Club;

• A Creole Luncheon Seminar on "Doing Business with Louisiana" hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Panama for its members to meet and network with our delegation and learn about the range of business opportunities with our state. (The cuisine at this event also was prepared by Chef Keith.);

Current detailed information about Panama’s economy, demographics, political structure, and commercial opportunities available to Louisiana companies can be accessed as follows:

1. U.S. Department of State Background Notes on Panama

2. U.S. Embassy Country Commercial Guide on Panama (pdf)

3. Louisiana export statistics for Panama

Other Related Information:

•  "Louisiana Officials, Businesses Seek Bonanza in Panama" - January 19 article in The Times-Picayune 
   
• "State Officials Look For Trade Opportunities With Panama" - January 17 article in New Orleans CityBusiness 
   
• A CityBusiness ad which appeared in the January 17 issue listing the sponsors and company names of the mission participants
   
• "Misión comercial de EE.UU. visitará Panamá" - January 14 article in Panama America 
   
• "Hearing On New Panama Canal Toll System" - January 7 article from the Journal of Commerce (provided by Jim Amoss of Marine Logistics)
   
• Commercial Service staff contact information, including U.S. Embassy in Panama
   
• PowerPoint presentation by Karla King, U.S. Commercial Counselor in Panama-some of this information was referred to by Karla in her January 6 briefing in the Plimsoll Club on "Doing Business in Panama"
    
• Overview of Panama’s World Trade Organization Commitments by Edward Hayes, distributed at the January 6 luncheon briefing
     
• The Panamanian Presidency, with links to all other government ministries and agencies: www.presidencia.gob.pa
     
• General Tourism on Panama: www.panamainfo.com