The Panama Maritime XIV World Conference & Exhibition was held in Panama City from 17 to 20 March 2019 at the Megapolis Convention Centre. Our Commercial Officer, Diana Intriago, attended as a Delegate of the Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange.

This Conference is held every two years in the last twenty-eight years, as a visionary project of the Maritime Law Association of Panama and the Maritime Chamber of Panama. This year, The Maritime Authority of Panama and the Panama Canal Authority, were the major co-organizers of the Conference.

Since 1991, the Conference has grown into a world-class international full-fledged trade conference and exhibition covering all maritime sectors including infrastructure, port, logistics, particularly agro-logistics and shipping –with emphasis on legal issues affecting those areas, as well as business opportunities for Panama and the region. The 2019 theme for Panama Maritime XII is “Panama: Changing Global Trade Dynamics -Leading Supply Chain Logistics in the Region; technological advances in logistical services has been included, along with tourism, agro-industries, mining, and energy, as one of the pillars of Panama´s economic development for the next decades.

This Conference attracted a record number of participants and international speakers, with an impressive number of issues analyzed in round table discussions or as stand-alone presentations. The Exhibit also attracted a record number of businesses interested in promoting their products and services and the possibility to explore new businesses opportunities in Panama and the region since the major providers of the region´s maritime services and products and the most important ports and shipping lines.

Holland had their own pavilion represented by more than 15 companies from the Dutch Caribbean, this Commercial Mission was led by the Prime Minister of Curaçao, Mr. Eugene Rhuggenaath and His Excellency Dirk Janssen – Ambassador of The Kingdom of The Netherlands.

The Honourable Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was present and gave a very high level to the whole Conference. He opened the conference and addressed the audience the current issues and new regulations at IMO, with the objective to increase the efficiency of ships and protection of the environment.

Other keynote speakers were:

The Canal Administrator, that provided an update on how the expanded Canal behaves in terms of revenues and market share – and how the Canal contributes to the consolidation of Panama as a regional logistics center.

The Administrator of the Maritime Authority, that gave his vision of the next 100 years of the Registry, as well as the development of port infrastructures, such as the maritime ancillary services wharf and the new cruise terminal.

Last, but not least, the Prime Minister of Curacao, Mr. Eugene Rhuggenaath, that gave a great speech describing the business opportunities The Netherlands can offer, considering its open economy, the long-lasting tradition of international trade, its position on the Maritime sector with the presence of three closely-coordinated main ports (Schiphol, Rotterdam and Amsterdam), the top quality logistics system, and other excellent services, all these make the Dutch companies a desirable partner worldwide and Panama it’s a potential one.

The main Focal Points of the Conference were:

• The future of ports: from current strains to the changes and innovations of the future;
• Strengthening of the Panamanian logistics hub;
• Automation of shipping logistics and the future of work;
• The changing legal patterns of the shipping logistics industry;
• Impact of artificial intelligence in a timeless industry: Maritime Transportation;
• Environmental impact of Maritime Transportation;
• Facing 2020: Impact of the new regulatory regime and the promotion of clean and environmentally friendly fuels;
• Impact of international investment on the positioning of Panama as a regional logistics hub;
• Empowering women in the shipping logistics industry;
• The future of Panama as an agro-logistics hub for the region.

The Conference Programme was packed with presentations on all-important issues impacting shipping, focusing on new regulations to ensure energy efficiency on ships; Ballast Water; the next steps after the expanded Canal and the Panama Maritime Authority`s next 100 years of the Registry and its strategy to keep the Registry ahead of all others.

Other players in the maritime industry talk about relevant issues, such as the Canal´s future businesses; the “all water” service –a comparison between the Panama Canal and Suez routes; benefits of Canal expansion for LNG cargo, “retailers” and competitiveness of the Panamanian Ship Registry, considering major reform proposals presented by the maritime law association. The impact of the expanded Canal on the socio-economic development of Central America and the Caribbean Region.

Also, the Foreign investment in the context of economic incentives that Panama offers was discussed, just as marine ancillary services permit and concession models used in Panama and other countries in the region. Technical topics of great relevance to the industry were also discussed, making this unique gathering of experts, a great success.