Panama Chamber of Shipping honors Alberto Aleman Zubieta

The Panama Chamber of Shipping (CMP) offered a tribute to the administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, Alberto

The President of the Chamber of Shipping, Willys Delvalle, gives recognition to Alberto Aleman Zubieta as "a great Panamanian" for surmounting "historic challenges" for 16 years as administrator of the Canal, which was part of the tribute made on August 8, 2012.

Aleman Zubieta, as a “professional Panamanian who put the name of Panama proudly in print in the global maritime community by leading the way of the Panama Canal for 16 years.” Offering the tribute on the night of Wednesday, August 8, in the Las Perlas lounge of the Union Club, the President of the Chamber, Willys Delvalle, described the achievements of Aleman Zubieta as the “panamanization” and modernization of the Canal to optimize the old infrastructure, design, promotion and implementation of the expansion to meet demand in the foreseeable future and setting the stage for turning Panama into a logistics center of the Americas. “And defying all odds, under the leadership of Aleman Zubieta, the Panama Canal has improved and has transformed the nonprofit management model to one that generates large economic benefits to Panama and Panamanians”. “The most impressive of this process,” Delvalle said, “is that, unlike what many in Panama and abroad thought, the panamaniazation of the Canal was accompanied by improvements in efficiency and safety of operations.” Regarding the change of the management model, it was observed that “in twelve years of Panamanian administration Panama has received more than $6,576 million in direct benefits, 3.6 times more revenue than the $1,833 million received in 85 years under American administration.” He said the success in managing the Panama Canal testifies to the faith that Aleman Zubieta had in the capacity of Panamanians, when he said in an interview he gave some years ago at the INCAE Business Review: “I am confident that Panamanians have the intellectual capacity, skills and tools to develop the nation we imagine that we want and deserve.” Highlighting the achievements of Aleman Zubieta at the front of the Canal, Delvalle thanked him on behalf of the Chamber of Shipping, “for your dedication and commitment shown over the years, where we joined you in a close relationship, not only at work, but in a great and sincere friendship.” “We hope that this is not the last position you occupy in the public life of this country. Panama needs you today more than ever for the contribution of a citizen of your intellectual and moral capacity,” concluded Delvalle. Following the ceremony, the President of the Chamber of Shipping presented Aleman Zubieta with a painting depicting the first visit he made, as recently appointed administrator of the Panama Canal Commission in September 1996, to Miraflores Locks where he was received by an enthusiastic group of workers.

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