ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE PANAMA CONSULATE IN HOUSTON WINS "MOST TRUSTED MARITIME SERVICES - TEXAS"
The Consulate General of Panama in Houston has been selected as the “Most Trusted Maritime Services” in the State of Texas by the prestigious magazine “International Transport News”. The consulate is one of sixty consulates across the world that provides services in support of The Panama Shipping Registry – the oldest and largest in the world. The Shipping Registry is part of The Panama Maritime Authority, an agency of the Government of Panama that last year celebrated its 100th anniversary. The consulate also hosts the registry’s Global Offshore Center. Its operations are forward in technology and designed for fast & accurate service. The consulate’s offices are located in Greenway Plaza (Houston) which is an area that hosts several shipping companies. International Transport News relies on industry experts in the government field and think-thanks around the world. They cover issues pertaining to logistics, shipping, and aviation to name a few.
PORT OF HOUSTON STRENGTHENS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH PANAMA CANAL
John Moseley, Chief Commercial Officer of the Port Houston and Monica Glover, Senior Manager of Government Relations, visited the Consulate of Panama in Houston. The working visit covered a wide array of topics such as improvements of the port to better access Asian markets through the Panama Canal, efforts of the port to expand its reach to the north of Houston for containers, steps taken to attract imports of perishables from South & Central America, plans to deepen & widen the ship channel towards being fully compatible with the recent expansion of the Panama Canal, cooperation with other agencies of the region to strengthen the global relationships of the Port, and to solidify its status as the #1 port in international tonnage in the United States. The Port of Houston and the Panama Canal have a strategic partnership with 38% of the ships coming to Houston transiting the canal which is having an impact in container traffic and in exports of LNG, LPG, and resins from Texas ports. The Consulate of Panama is organizing Panama Week Texas 2018, and it is expected that the visit of Panama’s Maritime Affairs Minister to Houston, Jorge Barakat Pitty, will generate initiatives for increased trade and cooperation.
PANAMA'S MARIANO RIVERA GETS U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP NOD
Newsroom Panama posted this great article: The ex-New York Yankees closing pitcher, Panamanian Mariano Rivera has been chosen by US President Donald Trump, to be part of the Council of Sports, Physical Fitness and Nutrition. Other nominees are his ex-teammate Johnny Damon, former NFL player Herschel Walker, beach volleyball, three-time Olympic gold medallist Misty May-Treanor, golfer Natalie Gulbis, amateur wrestler Kyle Snyder, bobsled silver medalist Shauna Rohbock, actor Lou Ferrigno and television host Mehmet Oz.
THE CONSULATE MEETS WITH A GROUP OF RETIREES
On May 7 Consul General Amb. Juan B. Sosa met with a group of Panamanian retirees assembled by Ricardo Johns, a member of Pro-Panamá.
The meeting served to inform the advances of the consulate in services to the Panamanian community, and economic perspectives between Panamá and the Houston Region, with whom it has a “Strategic Partnership”.
CITY OF PASADENA LOOKS SOUTH!
Mr. Jeff Wagner, Mayor of the City of Pasadena, met with Amb. Juan B. Sosa, Consul General in Panama to discuss potential opportunities between Panama and Pasadena, a city on the banks of the Houston Ship Channel which is home to several petrochemical companies. The expansion of the Panama Canal has opened the way for bigger ships to transit the Canal and increase exports to the Pacific South, Central and North America and the to the Asian economies. The Consulate and the City of Pasadena will be working on programs to enhance the relationship to include trade and tourism.
AIR CHINA INAUGURATES SERVICE BEIJING-HOUSTON-PANAMA CITY
Air China inaugurated its new route from Beijing to Panama via Houston starting on April 5, 2018. The new route is created nine months after Panama and the People’s Republic of China established diplomatic relations set to stimulate investment, commerce, tourism, and cooperation between the two countries.
PANAMA CANAL EXPANSION
On March 2, 2018, the MSC Caterina became the 3,000 vessel to transit the expanded Panama Canal in 20 months of operation. Exceeding expectations and reaffirming the waterway’s importance to world commerce, the vessel made its way from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean headed Northbound.
WORLD YOUTH DAY PANAMA 2019
Organizers of the next World Youth Day have announced the dates for Panama 2019: Jan. 22-27. The massive youth rally, which always has the pope as its VIP guest, will take place in Panama City during its local summer.