NEWSLETTER - JUNE 2014

Introduction

"Welcome to the monthly edition of the World Trade Center Panama Newsletter! Through this monthly newsletter we want to interconnect our members and inform our tenants by sharing useful information about WTC Panama. We will also showcase the ongoing activities and our latest updates on upcoming and past events, as well as the international relationship of WTC Panama with other WTC’s through the WTC Association." Mr. Remy Swaab, Executive Director of WTC Panama.

Close to Home

It's always better to prevent

As an initiative to ease all of the coursework related to fumigation for all our neighbors, the WTC Panama's Administration suggests to unify the fumigation process within the offices that belong to the building. In order to keep the building in the best condition possible, they must make sure our fumigation process works in an organized way. The Administration invites all members and tenants to join the fumigation plan. The municipals decree number 1474, from the 22nd of May, 2000, establishes the frequency of fumigation. Those establishments handling food, must be fumigated every month; offices, every three months and hotels, every two weeks.
Besides obtaining better results in pest control programs for the Complex, unifying the process gives better price rates due to a bigger volume sell from our providers. For more information, please contact the Administration.

For Our Safety: implementing fire extinguishers.

Looking forward to comply with the requirements of the Fire Department of Panama and taking the tenants' and members' safety as the number one priority, WTC Panama's Administration invites everyone in the Complex to participate in the initiative to protect ourselves from unfortunate accidents by updating the fire extinguishers placed in the offices and spaces inside the Complex. ACE Group suggests to keep one 20 pound extinguisher every 150 square meters, or two 10 pound extinguisher every 75 square meters to make them easy to handle in emergency cases. It is also recommended to have an ABC chemical powder extinguisher and a CO2 extinguisher to protect computers, technical equipment and servers from damaging in those circumstances. The Administration encourages all members and tenants to participate in this initiative and acquire your extinguisher.

Members at Heart

World Trade Centers' General Assembly in Bucharest, Romania

The WTCA General Assembly is a yearly forum for World Trade Center members, executives and international business leaders to exchange ideas, shape actionable strategies, and gain exposure. CEO's, property developers, trade experts, policymakers and educators fuel dialogue on innovative, unexplored opportunities that touch on topics from economic development, real estate, property management, foreign direct investment, trade policy and education and technology.
This year's 45th WTCA General Assembly was hosted by WTC Bucharest, Romania and included forums on how technology is driving growth and changing the competitive landscape, about the use of standards and about how successful companies are integrating them with their international strategies. There were also opportunities to interact with a wide range of senior politicians, economists and business leaders, for example: the Prime Minister of Romania, Victor-Viorel Ponta, the former Prime Minister of South Korea (currently serving as Chairman of Korea International Trade Association), Dr. Duck-Soo Han, Vice Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Bogdan Olteanu and the Former US Ambassador of Romania, Mark Gitenstein.
At this world-class event, Dr. Duck-Soo Han met with Mr. Remy Swaab, Executive Director of WTC Panama to discuss the potential markets available in Panama for the vast South Korean KITA network.
Additionally, Mr. Swaab fulfilled an active role as facilitator in the Regional Meeting of the Americas together with President & CEO of WTC Utah, Elizabeth Goryunova and President & CEO of WTC Winnipeg, Mariette Mulaire. In this meeting the WTC Delegates from each region had the opportunity to discuss three different topics; Business Clubs at WTC's, how to use the Brand of WTC and Collaboration between WTC's. For more information about this event, click here.
Next year's General Assembly will be hosted by WTC Metro Manila in the Philippines from the 26th – 29th of April. This is the first time that the WTCA General Assembly will be held in the Philippines and it is expected to draw great participation from the WTCA network and its Trade Delegation. For more information about this event in 2015,click here

Member Acknowledgment

Words from Julio Escalona, Digital Print Panama

Digital Print Panama counts with high quality impression technology dedicated to the manufacture of leaflets, brochures, flyers, presentation cards, invitations, tickets and everything related to graphic arts. With High Tech Indigo 5000 equipment, we offer an excellent top class quality work in a very short time.
Digital Print Panama is the new concept in the printing business, which uses all of the advantages that technology can provide us. Our policies include delivering the work on time, with an unbeatable quality and very competitive prices. We keep it eco-friendly by using liquid offset ink in all of our work. Here at Digital Print we are more than happy to be part of your ideas and projects, guaranteeing success and the quality you deserve. Digital Print Panama, your printing center!
We are located on the first floor, Local 5, next to Banistmo. Contact us at: 396-9424 / 25

Panama News

Panama strengthens connection between Asia and Europe through the Airline Industry

This past April, Panama and Singapore signed an agreement authorizing air services to promote an international aviation system. Their goal is to create competition between airlines which serve these countries. The agreements have very subtle government intervention, taking into consideration that its number one objective is to enhance trade relations between Asia and Latin America and to expand the air market.
Meanwhile, IAG Cargo (International Airline Group) announced an increase in the amount of flights offered between its hub in Madrid and Panama City. IAG Cargo exposed its intentions to contribute to the commercial relations between the European and Latin-American market using the most relevant locations at the moment. This June, one more Madrid-Panama flight will be introduced to the 5 flight weekly schedule and it's expected to have one daily flight for July. Among the new projects it is also considered to increase the cargo's capacity to give a better product transportation service to its clients.
The commercial delegate for Latin America, Rodrigo Casal, exposed his great interest in offering better services to complement the existing routes between Europe and Latin America, giving easy, comfortable and efficient access to the most important commercial spots. IAG Cargo connects 350 destinations around the world; and Panama, which until now had low relevance, has become the hot spot for the air industry. For more information click here

Panama: Bright for investments

Panama has demonstrated an enormous growth in its foreign investment rate. The total figure of investment in Central America was 10,039 billion and the whole 40% stayed in Panama. Compared to other countries, which growth did not exceed from 15%, Panama achieved a 30% growth, becoming an exceptional phenomenon with an investment of 4,000 million dollars. On the other hand, El Salvador got the lowest position, receiving 1.6% of the direct foreign investment. PROESA'S Executive Director, Giovanni Berti, claimed that the low rate meant a big challenge for their country that had to be faced in order to increase the investment flow and he came up with the conclusion that the low rate is due to the poor trust and weak relation with investors.

Regarding the rest of the countries as Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the growth rates danced between 5.8% and 15%, making Panama top of its class. For more information click here

Latin America News

Fifa World Cup and Brazil’s bad Streak

While we get closer to the very expected FIFA World Cup, the event of the year, which promises to remain in history, we wonder how the host country, Brazil, prepares for it while facing the hard economic situation they live in. As a part of the BRICS Group with emerging economies, Brazil had excellent forecasts of growth and a stable economy taken for granted; however, for the world's seventh global actor, those promising forecasts were not very accurate, and the upcoming World Cup, doesn't seem to make significant progress. The country's growth is affectively low and since 2011 they have not been able to upgrade from a 2% growth. The country also has a very high inflation rate, which keeps increasing gradually. Currently, and in a progressive way, Brazil's economy depends directly from the foreign inversion taking into consideration the very low GDP (Growth Domestic Product).
Even with the loss of enthusiasm from investors towards the BRICS group, Brazil has all the resources to overcome the difficulties and get back what's lost. This situation represents a major challenge for the political frame of the country, where an electoral process in about to happen. Hopefully with wise decisions, the situation will soon be under control.
And fortunately, Brazilians have not lost their spirit of victory and they're waiting for the World Cup with great enthusiasm; and with economic matters, it's hoped that with all the movement the event brought, the local market stabilizes while they find reorientation of the current issues. For more information, click here

Rejection towards hydroelectrical energy sources

Latin American leaders are facing important decisions regarding the energy efficiency of their countries. Representatives from controversial programs for hydro electrical energy development such as HydroAysen in Chile are waiting for an answer on the future of their projects.
For 2025 it's predicted that the energy demand in Latin America will double the current and for many countries like Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia, where 80% of the energy comes from hydro electrical industries, solving conflicts to achieve progress and a sustainable source of power is a big challenge. In all of these countries energy consumption increases and hydro electrical industries give an economical, fast and efficient solution to most of the users. Most governments are placing their hopes on these mega projects to reassure their energy for many years, still there are current studies to find another alternative in a near future.
There are important concerns about costs and environmental damage on these countries' nature, the possibility of forced translocation of citizens and on the deep rejection from the environmentalist guild.
The disapproval from the people and the dependence to the energy source, became a big conflict on the governments of the region, nevertheless with research, transparency in the decisions and dialogue, consensus could be achieved in order to produce sustainable, eco-friendly and affordable energy. For more information click here

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About Us

WTC Panama aims to expand communication, international market culture and business services. The primary goal of the WTC Panama is to bring together the businesses involved in international commerce and provide them with services that will help facilitate growth. WTC Panama connects various economic segments locally and globally and is a member of the World Trade Centers Association. This Association stimulates trade and investment opportunities for commercial property developers, economic development agencies and international businesses looking to connect globally and prosper locally through the exclusive 330 'World Trade Center' branded properties and trade service.