Presentation

A Luncheon Briefing by Karla King U.S. Commercial Counselor American Embassy, Panama City   Also, perspectives by Edward Hayes, an international trade attorney, on Panama's World Trade Organization commitments and the current U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Thursday, January 6, 2005 12:00 Noon - 1:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. networking reception) Plimsoll Club, 30th Floor, WTC (Free validated parking in the WTC Garage)

This event is being held in connection with the major January 19-22 Louisiana Trade Mission to Panama.  Panama has a vibrant economy that offers numerous opportunities for Louisiana companies in many sectors. The U.S. and Panama are currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement, which will further expand the opportunities for doing business. The U.S. Embassy considers the best prospects for U.S. exports to Panama to be: telecommunications equipment and services, computers and peripherals, security and safety equipment, food processing and packaging equipment, building products, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, hotel and restaurant equipment, water and wastewater treatment equipment, and financial services. There also are outstanding prospects available for U.S. agricultural products and services.

Karla King is the Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Panama. She is responsible for a promoting trade and investment between the United States and Panama, and most particularly, for providing trade facilitation services for U.S. companies looking to establish business relationships in Panama.

Karla is a career foreign service officer with the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce and has had a long and distinguished career in international economic and commercial diplomacy. Prior to taking up her present post in Panama in August of this year, she served in the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. She has been deeply engaged in the preparations leading up to the current Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the United States and various Latin and Central American countries and is presently very active in the planning of post-ratification initiatives to help American companies take advantage of the opportunities that will result from these new agreements. She also has strong experience in infrastructure, energy, privatization, and project finance.

Karla's career has literally been around the world. She served previously in Thailand, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kenya. She has received numerous awards of recognition for sustained meritorious performance. Karla has a Masters degree with honors in International Affairs from the American University and a B.A. from the University of Colorado.