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Global Leaders Tour Panama Canal

Published Jan 17, 2011 1:32 PM by The Maritime Executive

Often labeled as one of the world’s most important infrastructure projects underway this decade, a visit to the Panama Canal expansion site is atop many lists upon arriving in Panama. And the same rings true for Heads of State.

Yesterday, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) welcomed the following dignitaries to the Atlantic expansion site in Colón: Belize Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega; Colombia President Álvaro Uribe; Costa Rica Vice President Alfio Piva Mesén; Dominican Republic Vice President Rafael Albuquerque; Guatemala President Álvaro Colom; Honduras President Porfirio Lobo; Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Spain Vice President Manuel Chaves.

The delegation, in Panama for the Central American Integration System (SICA) summit, was hosted by Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli; Panamanian Vice President Juan Carlos Varela; ACP Board Chair and Minister for Canal Affairs Romulo Roux and ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta.

The global leaders were given a VIP tour of the expansion site and briefed on the progress of the historic $5.25 billion project, which moves forward as planned.
Expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships.

In the attached picture from left to right:
ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta; Belize Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega; Spain Vice President Manuel Chaves; Colombia President Álvaro Uribe; Panama Vice President Juan Carlos Varela; Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi; Panama President Ricardo Martinelli; Guatemala President Álvaro Colom; Honduras President Porfirio Lobo; Dominican Republic Vice President Rafael Albuquerque; Costa Rica Vice President Alfio Piva Mesén and Panama Minister for Canal Affairs Rómulo Roux.

About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP's Web site: www.pancanal.com. You can also follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thepanamacanal