PRESIDENT MULINO MEETS WITH GREEK SHIPOWNERS TO PROMOTE THE ADVANTAGES OFFERED BY THE PANAMA SHIP REGISTRY

-Approximately 500 ships owned by Greek proprietors use the Panamanian flag for their navigation and international maritime trade. –

The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, held a meeting with the community of Greek shipowners and high-level maritime sector representatives, to whom he presented Panama's plan to enhance the value of its flag as a Ship Registry. This will allow Panama to attract more clients and position itself as one of the major competitors in ship flagging.

Mulino highlighted the importance of his working visit to Greece, considering that this conglomerate represents about 500 ships under the Panamanian flag and more than 20% of the world's cargo transport.

Mulino began his work agenda this Monday and provided an overview of these three days on Wednesday: "I had an official visit with the President of Greece and with the Prime Minister, with whom we addressed the international geopolitical situation and the problems of the maritime sector. We also expressed Panama's desire to unify criteria for more effective maritime and commercial collaboration."

The Panamanian president stated that the meeting with Greece's maritime industrial sector was important to answer questions regarding the situation of Panamanian ships in China. "We have committed —following the meeting held by the foreign ministers of China and Panama— to implement proactive mechanisms to resolve this problem."

During the meeting with a significant group of the shipowning community, the Minister of the Canal, José Ramón Icaza, and the Director of the Merchant Marine of the Panama Maritime Authority, Ramón Franco, explained the actions in the ship registry and the projects being developed by the National Government and the Panama Canal.

Icaza referred to the modernization projects announced by Tocumen International Airport, S.A., the new port concessions presented by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), the rehabilitation plan for the Pan-American Highway and the Fourth Bridge, projects executed by the MOP. In addition, the strategic projects promoted by the Panama Canal Authority, including the Río Indio lake and the extension of the logistics corridor connecting the Centennial Bridge with the Atlantic Bridge.

For his part, Director Franco referred to the future of sustainable efficiency, regulations, current challenges, and why choose the Panama Registry.

The program also included interventions by the Ambassador of Panama in Greece, Julie Lymberópulos; the Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez-Acha; and the Administrator of the AMP. They were accompanied by Julio Moltó, Minister of Commerce and Industries; Rafael Bárcenas, Director of Civil Aeronautics; Kristel Getzler, Secretary of Economic Affairs and Competitiveness of the Ministry of the Presidency; Alberto Vallarino, former Minister of Economy and Finance; Alberto Alemán Zubieta, former Administrator of the Panama Canal; and Aurelio Barría, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama.

For this Thursday, the president will hold various meetings with shipping entrepreneurs and participate in a reception with the international maritime community, high officials of the Hellenic Government and the private sector, in order to continue strengthening Panama as an international maritime and logistics leader.