Banana growers
seek govt intervention
The Multiple Services Cooperative
of Port Armuelles (COOSEMUPAR) has asked the government to intervene
in negotiations to establish a new banana buying and selling
contract with the transnational banana company Chiquita Brands.
This was requested by the unionized banana workers in the Industrial
Union of Workers of the Chiriqui Land Company and Related Businesses
(SITRACHILCO).
Car sales soar
During the first eight months of the year, 25,505
cars have been sold in Panama, of which 44% are small truck
type vehicles and pickups. This is 3,490 units more than the
sales achieved during the same period of 2006 an increase of
45%.
Northwest Passage open
Will global warming cause the Northwest Passage to
take traffic from the Panama Canal? The Northwest Passage is
open, free of ice, for the first time. The especially sharp,
climatic change in the Arctic has opened the seaway between
Europe and Asia above Greenland and Canada, it was affirmed
by the European Space Agency, whose satellites measure the ice
almost daily. In theory, a ship could set sail tomorrow from
Vigo and arrive in Japan without passing the Panama Canal. In
practice, the icebergs prevent the crossing.
Panama woos European tourists
Panama is intensifying an advertising campaign in
Europe to bring tourists from England, Italy and Spain by offering
them cultural alternatives said Minister of Tourism, Ruben Blades.
"These types of tourist are attracted by the culture and
idiosyncrasy of the countries that they visit and because of
that, Panama has a lot to offer" said Blades in an interview
on the program Open Debate of RPC TV.
Bush supports trade agreement
President George W. Bush urged the US Congress to
approve "as soon as possible" the trade agreement
with Panama speaking at the inauguration of the 62nd General
Assembly of the United Nations (UN).
Perceptions of corruption
The daily newspaper "Panama America" commented
that the most remembered promise of the campaign of president
Martin Torrijos was "zero corruption". However, since
he assumed power in 2004 the perception of corruption has become
worse and passes that in the administration of former president
Mireya Moscoso in her last year of office.
Panamanians to China Olympics
A group of 44 Panamanian athletes travelled to Shanghai,
China, to participate with more than 7,000 other athletes from
169 countries in the XII World Summer Olympics, the major sporting
event in the history of the Special Olympics.
China/Panama trade sought
The newspaper "Critica" reported that the
Foreign Minister of the Chinese Popular Republic, Yang Jiechi,
said at a meeting with his Panamanian counterpart Samuel Lewis
Navarro that his country wants to increase commerce with Panama.
Yang maintained that as the economic growth in China has increased
in a dynamic way in recent years, it also wants to multiply
commerce with Panama.
Water tax for cows?
The president of the National Association of Cattle
Raisers (ANAGAN), Luis Martínez described absurd the
plan for issueing drinking water concession to farms with wells
to provide water for cattle. On several occasions the National
Authority of the Environment (ANAM) has established some type
of tax on wells. |
Heavy increase
in construction
According to figures of the Department of Census and
Statistics, construction, permits increased 26.3% between Jan
and July this year compared with 2006. The district of Arraiján
registered 61.9%.
Less red on pension fund
The deficit of the program of Invalidity, Old Age
and Death (IVM) of the Social Security Fund (CSS) began to drop.
Up until June this year, the current deficit of the program
that pays the pensions of 170,000 people in the country was
US$22.6 million, US$10.2 million less than for the same period
of 2006. That signifies that "it is improving", said
Elsebir de Castillero, national director of planning of the
CSS.
Regional power connection
A report in the newspaper "Panama America"
stated that the project for electricity interconnection between
Panama and Colombia, at a cost of US$207 million, will integrate
the electricity market of the Andean community with the regional
market of Central America. This favors the Central American
energy initiative of the Puebla-Panama Plan, and once all the
environmental impact studies are approved work will proceed.
Stabilize diesel price
The Cabinet approved a resolution that orders the
Ministry of Economy and Finances, to grant US$1,500, 000 to
stabilize the price of diesel for public transport in the cities
of Panama and Colon.
Security video installed
The cabinet has autorized the Ministry of Government
and Justice to make a contract with Cable & Wireless Panama,
to supply equipment to give services and develop the Civic Caution
Video Project (closed circuit TV cameras) in the district of
Panama with a price tag of US$7,049,999.94 it was reported by
"La Estrella" newspaper.
Tocumen sets record
A third of the passengers using the Tocumen International
Airport are making connections. This proportion is the highest
of all the airports in the world with traffic of 2 million passengers
annually, according to the International Air Transport Association
(IATA).
Cruise season looks good
The 2007-2008 cruise ship season will bring some 450,000
tourists and crewmembers aboard 235 vessel calls that will spend
nearly US$47 million here. The projection for this season, that
will end in May 2008, is made on the basis of the mooring predicted
for these luxury ships in the cruise ports or Panama. Colon
2000 and Cristobal, on the Caribbean, at Amador and on the Pacific.
Bank fusion complete
The process of integration of all the operations of
Continental Bank and Banco General is complete. The joint bank
will now be under the holding company BG Financial Group and
under the trademark Banco General. Federico Humbert, president
of the board of directors of Banco General S.A., reported that
61% of the shares in circulation of the BG Financial Group are
the property of General Investment Company, S.A., and 39% of
Continental Financial Group, S.A.
Europe gives credit for Canal
The commissioner of Foreign Affairs of the European
Union, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, gave the Panama Canal Authority
a long-term credit of US$300 million euros (US$428 million)
for the work of enlargement. This represents 19% of the financing
required for the work. Ms. Ferrero-Waldner, visited the Panama
Canal before meeting with president Martin Torrijos, to speak
about an agreement of association between Europe and Central
America. |
Caterpillar to establish
regional H.Q.
The Caterpillar company wants to establish a center
of operations in Panama and the Cabinet authorized the Ministry
of Commerce to sign a memo of understanding with this American
company. The center would consolidate the presence of Caterpillar
in the region, to expand its operations and to reinforce the
guarantee of its trademark and products in the inernational
market.
Viveros Island development
The Viveros Island Group, made up of European businessmen,
will invest some US$100 million in the mega project of Viveros
Island in the Las Perlas Archipelago in Panama Bay. Jean Pierre
Canzano, the representative of the group, indicated that they
expect to finish the first phase of the project in March 2008.
President Torrijos travels
President Martin Torrijos has been travelling recently.
He went to Germany as a guest of honor in the events of Americas
Day, organized by the business organization Latin-American Verein,
the Panamanian embassy in Berlin reported. He also made a six
days trip to New York for a meeting with the secretary general
of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon
Pineapples for ethanol
The newspaper "Panama America" reported
that the Panamanian pineapple could enter the Taiwanese market
for the production of ethanol. Gregorio Huang, economic counselor
of the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), will begin
conversations on this subject with agricultural exporters.
Tree planting
The Minister for Panama Canal Affairs, the administrator
of the Environmental Authority (ANAM) and the Ombudsman sowed
three of the 400 trees which completed the reforestation of
550 thousand native species on the banks of the Panama Canal.
PTJ to be split
The deputies of the Government Commission of the National
Assembly will again discuss the controversial project that seeks
to dismember the Technical Judicial Police (PTJ) and turn it
into two agencies of investigation: The Criminal Investigation
Agency (OIC) and the Department of Judicial Investigation (DIJ). |
It is believed that the attitude
of the European Union towards Panama is improving, since for
some years Panama was not a candidate for aid because of its
economic indicators. During her visit Ferrero-Waldner, reported
that although Panama was experiencing an important economic
boom, she is also certain that a part of the population still
lacks many benefits.
ICA involved with mammoth tower
The Mexican company ICA, announced that it will participate
in the construction of the Los Faros de Panama complex ( The
Lighthouses of Panama) in the Panama Canal area, that will be
the highest tower in Latin America, of 346 meters and 84 floors.
Gold Mine started
With the reactivation of the mining project Petaquilla
in 2005 following a recovery in international metal prices and
after performing evaluations and analysis of feasibility and
environmental impact studies for the environmental agency ANAM,
Petaquilla initiated the construction of its Gold Plant in its
area of concession.
Milk import
The National Association of Cattle Raisers (ANAGAN)
reported that 350 million liters of milk are consumed yearly
in Panama, of which 170 million are from national producers
and 180 million are imported, mostly from New Zealand.
$200 million at Expo Habitat
Pedro Destresno, president of the organizing committee
of Capac Expo Habitat, reported that during the fair the transactions
exceeded US$200 million and said that between exhibitors and
visitors more than 35,000 people participated. He emphasized
the growth of the sector of construction machinery and equipment,
particularly that acquired to begin the expansion of the Panama
Canal.
Coastal Strip criticised
The organization City Alliance, represented by the
architect Rodrigo Mejía-Audrión has questioned
some points of the design of the Coastal Strip including the
relocation of the monument of Vasco Núñez de Balboa.
Mejía-Audrión criticised the design of the park
where the statue will be located, because it will be square
and not round, like the present one. Also, it does not have
a garden. He also complained of the lack of foot bridges. |
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