February 19, 2010
Gearing Up for Panama Opportunities
If you are like me, the only things you knew about Panama was that it was a really good Van Halen song in the 80′s and something about a canal down there that the United States was a former owner. Well, now as an economic developer I’ve come to learn of the importance of Panama both for connecting to other continents in international trade and for establishing export partners.
In order to establish business connections with those that could help us increase our business at Port Manatee, Manatee County will be sending a delegation to Panama next week. I will be a member of the delegation so I am getting prepared for this trip as I write this.
The conventional wisdom is that the Panama Canal expansion will be completed in 2014 and will give eastern US deep water ports and opportunity for more business that traditionally would have come in to the west coast ports. Even a one percent increase would be a substantial amount of business to be created. Since Port Manatee is the nearest deep water port to the Panama Canal, Manatee County has an excellent opportunity to secure some of this new business. This new business would in turn create many more jobs which is what is of the most interest to the EDC.
Because Florida and Panama have such strong trade connections, its also going to be worthwhile to speak to people in Panama that can connect us with companies that could buy goods from Manatee County businesses. There will be future opportunities for Manatee County companies to visit Panama as a delegation in order to seek business opportunities so this mission will be very helpful toward advancing that goal.
It is a really exciting feeling that I have right now knowing that someone that I will meet with in Panama can be the link that create jobs and new investment in Manatee County. Its so awesome to be part of a delegation that is opening a new market for our community.
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Eric Basinger
Sharon Hillstrom
Lauren Kratsch
marybmanateeedc
