PANAMA WEEK TEXAS 2020

MARITIME                  ENERGY/ OIL & GAS                  INFRASTRUCTURE                AVIATION        EDUCATION               TRADE & INVESTMENT            LIFE SCIENCES                       LOGISTICS

REAL ESTATE            AGRICULTURE                            TECHNOLOGY                        TOURISM

                                                             HOUSTON, TEXAS 

                                                             March 9 - 10 2020

PROPANAMA, the Panama government agency responsible for international promotion of the country has joined forces with the Consulate of Panama in Houston and the U.S.-Panama Business Council (USPA) to organize “Panama Week Texas 2020” to be held on March 9-10 of 2020. The two-day event will be focused on sectors in which Texas excels and are important to Panama’ economy. These are: Maritime, energy/oil & gas, infrastructure, aviation, education, trade & investment, life sciences and logistics. High government officials and leaders of the private sector will be available for public discussions and private meetings. Other sectors may be included as interest for them is evidenced. This is the first of three “Panama Week” that will take place at U.S. cities in 2020 

AM and PM       TRAVEL TO HOUSTON 

                            Host Hotel: St. Regis Hotel

                            1919 Briar Oaks Ln, Houston TX, 77027

8:00 AM            BREAKFAST AND BUSINESS FORUM

                            Venue: St. Regis Hotel

                            1919 Briar Oaks Ln, Houston TX, 77027

1:00 PM             BUSINESS - DIPLOMATIC LUNCH  

                            REMARKS, AMBASSADOR OF PANAMA TO THE USA JUAN DE DIANOUS

2:30 PM             CONT. FORUM / OPTIONAL SESSIONS

                            PRIVATE MEETINGS / PRIVATE VISITS 

7:00 PM            TRADE MISSION TEXAS DINNER 

                           (FOR OUT-OF-THE COUNTRY 

                            VISITORS AND SPONSORS) 

EXCLUSIVE TO ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN IMPORT AND EXPORT OF PERISHABLE FOODS

8:30 AM           PROPANAMA'S  MISSION AND OBJECTIVES 

9:05 AM          PANAMANIAN EXPORT PRODUCTS PRESENTATION

                         Exporters

9:45 AM          QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

10:15 AM       PRIVATE MEETINGS: AFTER THE FORUM

Note: This agenda will be up-dated periodically as 

speakers’ slots are being filled.

Texas has two of the major airports in the United States in Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. In addition, there are international airports in San Antonio and Austin. Houston Intercontinental is the third airport in USA in fights to Latin America and since 2016 Hobby Airport also serves the Latin America market. Texas is host to USA headquarters of American Airlines (Dallas) and Southwest (Dallas), and the regional Latin America Headquarters to United Airlines (Houston). Houston is also a cargo hub but mostly for Asia and Europe. Its market penetration in Latin America is mall but Houston Intercontinental is positioned to develop an important cargo market to South America and the cargo hub that Panama is creating could be important.

Houston is considered the world’s capital of energy. This will be enhanced now that the U.S. can export oil & gas. Sabine Pass in East Texas is now exporting LNG through the Panama Canal while Corpus Christi and Port Freeport are also getting ready to export LNG. Texas has become one of the top states in solar and wind energy, a sector in which Panama has interest. Several Texas companies in the energy field have businesses relations in Panama. 

Because of the large needs of the oil & gas sector and petrochemical industries, Houston has large companies dedicated to infrastructure projects such as Fluor, Bechtel and others. In the past several Texas companies have been engaged in panama. Panama is interested in attracting construction companies from the United States and corporations headquartered in Texas could take advantage of this interest 

Houston is the #1 logistics center of the region thanks to its port, railroad and road infrastructure coupled to the large market that it is and the manufacturing center that it has become. Several logistics companies in Houston has operations or cooperation agreements with Panamanian companies. In addition, several shipping lines connect Panama with Houston to take advantage of the extensive transshipment business that takes place in Panama. 

Texas has nine deep water ports which makes it the #1state with deep water ports. It is also the most important state in offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and has a maritime infrastructure that includes schools, banks, engineering firms and industrial companies among others. It is also one of the most professional maritime law centers in the United States. The Port of Houston is the #1 port in the United States in international tonnage. It has recently updated their two container ports to be able to receive NeoPanamax vessels with 8,000 TEUs. The Port has also built a new perishable products terminal. The Port of Houston, Port Arthur/Beaumont, Port Freeport and Corpus Christi receive ships that transit the Panama Canal. Thirty-eight percent of the ships that arrive at the Port of Houston transit the Panama Canal. Maersk has a Central America-Panama route every two weeks from the Port of Houston and MSC a by-weekly service from Port Freeport. Cosco from China recently changed their USA headquarters to Houston and they also have a route to Panama. Port Freeport serves as host to Auto-Liner that brings autos from Asia through the Panama Canal and Cheniere at Sabine Pass is exporting LNG to Asia through the Canal. 

Texas is the #1 state in international trade in the United States and Houston is the #1 metropolitan region in international trade as well as the #1 trading partner of Panama. Panama imports more than $12 U.S. billion a year, half of it from the United States, making it Panama’s #1 trading partner. The U.S. and Panama have a Free Trade Agreement formalized in 2012 and an Overseas Private Investment Corporation Agreement to guarantee U.S. investments in Panama. Some Texas companies have a strong presence in Panama including a few as Regional Headquarters. The most notable Texas player is Dell from Ground Rock which has close to 3,000 employees. Halliburton of Houston uses Panama as a regional hub for services to the oil & gas industry of the region and United Airlines operate a regional hub with Copa Airlines to transport passengers to South America and the Caribbean. Chevron with regional headquarters for Latin America in Houston is the #1 exporter to Panama.