Canal expansion presented in Asia

The current economic situation has created a new balance. With the West in search of a solution, Asian and Latin American countries have taken a greater role.

The Panama Canal administration met last week with clients, employers and the maritime authorities in China, Japan and South Korea.

It sought to reaffirm relationships with their customers in Asia and present the impact the expansion of the waterway will have in that region.

Among users of the Canal, China ranks second, Japan fourth and South Korea fifth.

“We always keep close communication with our customers and this is a new opportunity to discuss issues of common interest, in addition to analyzing the impact of the expanded Canal on maritime trade,” said Panama Canal administrator Alberto Aleman Zubieta.

As part of the development of bilateral relations with Asia and the exchange of information, the Panama Canal participated in the conference organized by Sea Containers and The Journal of Commerce, where the Executive Vice President of Engineering and Project Management, Jorge Luis Quijano, told the audience of the great impact the Canal expansion will have on the international logistics industry. Business contacts were made with directors of the company, China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), and with Captain Wei Jiafu, president of COSCO Group Company.

“These contacts enable us to see firsthand what customers and users of the Panama Canal think, so we can provide quality service and competitiveness from the Panama route,” said Aleman Zubieta.

In Tokyo, contacts included meetings with top executives from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and with representatives of carriers such as K-Line, MOL, Mitsui OSK Lines and Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK).

The last country visited was South Korea for meetings with executives from Samsung Heavy Industries and the Hyundai company executives, officials from the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and directors of the Korean Association of Ship Owners.

This post is also available in: Spanish