The Panama Maritime Authority, with the collaboration of the Panamanian Embassy in Japan and the Consulate General of Panama in Tokyo, presented an exhibition booth with promotional material and video on maritime services of our country. During the three-day event, a large number of persons visited the Panamanian booth in order to get first hand information related to maritime services of Panama.

At the biennial event, the Panama Maritime Authority hosted a reception for participants of the exhibition and special guests, including representatives of the Japanese and international maritime industry. During the opening ceremony at the reception, H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador and Consul General of Panama to Japan, and Eng. Alfonso Castillero, Director General of Merchant Marine of the Panama Maritime Authority, expressed their gratitude to the Japanese shipowners for choosing the Panamanian Registry, being Japan the first user, while conveying their commitment to provide better services to the Japanese maritime community. The reception offered a good opportunity to deepen the relationship with representatives of the Japanese and international maritime industry.

On the sidelines of the event, Eng. Castillero had the opportunity to hold meetings with important Japanese shipping companies, senior representatives of the Maritime Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, the Japanese Shipowner’s Association and Tokyo MOU, exchanging views on maritime services offered by Panama.

H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador and Consul General of Panama to Japan, delivering the opening remarks at the reception of Sea Japan.

From left to right: Mr. Christopher Eve, President of UBM Japan (organizer of the event), Mr. Osamu Yoshida, Senior Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, Mr. Takeju Ogata, President of the Nippon Foundation, Mr. Akimitsu Ashida, Chairman of the Japanese Shipowners' Association, Mr. Kazuaki Kama, Chairman of the Shipbuilders’ Association of Japan, Mr. Zenshichi Akasaka, Chairman of the Japan Marine Equipment Association, H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador and Consul General of Panama to Japan, and Eng. Alfonso Castillero, Director General of Merchant Marine of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP).

At the center, H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador and Consul General of Panama to Japan and on his right, Eng. Alfonso Castillero, Director General of Merchant Marine of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), together with the representatives of the associations of the maritime industry during the opening ceremony.

H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador and Consul General of Panama to Japan, and Eng. Alfonso Castillero, Director General of Merchant Marine of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), together with the representatives of the associations of the maritime industry during the toast.

Participants in the reception of Sea Japan

During the presentation, Ambassador Kosmas provided general information of the Panama Canal, including maritime relations with Japan and the progress of the Panama Canal expansion project.

At the closing remarks, Mr. Jochen Loehnert, Chairman of the International Propeller Club of Japan, expressed his gratitude for the presentation of Ambassador Kosmas, pointing out that it was an excellent opportunity to learn about the status of the flagship project of Panama, which is of great interest in view of the important maritime relations between Panama and Japan.

H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, explains about the expansion project.

Participants listening to the presentation of H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan.

In Tokyo, Vice Minister Alvarez De Soto had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Hiroyo Sasaki, Vice President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to whom he expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Republic of Panama for the valuable cooperation that Japan has provided to Panama throughout the years.

In addition, Vice Minister Alvarez De Soto participated in a working dinner hosted by Mr. Yasuyuki Fujishima, Former Ambassador of Japan to Panama and Secretary General of Panama-Japan Business Cooperation Committee, which was also attended by Mr. Nobuhiko Sasaki, Director General of Trade Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.

Vice Minister Alvarez De Soto also attended a meeting with H.E. Masatsugu Asakawa, Deputy Vice Minister for International Affairs of Ministry of Finance of Japan, and Chairman of the Committee on Fiscal Affairs of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Deputy Minister Asakawa acknowledged the great performance of the Panamanian economy, good commercial relations with Japan and the economic policies that Panama has developed with dynamism and efficiency in the context of the Global Forum.

Following in the agenda, Vice Minister Alvarez De Soto held a meeting with Mr. Hiroaki Isobe, Executive Vice President of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). At the meeting, Vice Minister explained the benefits of foreign investment in Panama while Mr. Isobe informed about the strong interest of Japanese companies to establish their regional office in Panama.

On March 29, Vice Minister Alvarez De Soto had a working lunch with H.E. Toshiyuki Kato, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who expressed his satisfaction for the excellent economic performance of Panama in recent years and the initiatives of our country to create the United Nations Center for America and the Caribbean, the humanitarian hub for disaster relief in the continent as well as the Panamanian International Cooperation Agency. Also, Vice Minister Kato has conveyed his desire to increase the number of official visits between both countries.

H.E. Francisco Alvarez De Soto, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, and H.E. Toshiyuki Kato, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

H.E. Francisco Alvarez De Soto, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and H.E. Masatsugu Asakawa, Deputy Vice Minister for International Affairs of Ministry of Finance of Japan

H.E. Francisco Alvarez De Soto, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, and Mr. Hiroyo Sasaki, Vice President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

H.E. Francisco Alvarez De Soto, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, and Mr. Hiroaki Isobe, Executive Vice President of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

From left to right: H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, Mr. Nobuhiko Sasaki, Director General of Trade Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, H.E. Francisco Alvarez De Soto, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, and Mr. Yasuyuki Fujishima, Former Ambassador of Japan to Panama and Secretary General of Panama-Japan Business Cooperation Committee

Ambassador Kosmas participated together with ambassadors of Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Ecuador and Brazil, representing the Group of Heads of Mission of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC in Spanish).

Following the agenda, Ambassador Kosmas with his GRULAC colleagues paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Sendai, Ms. Emiko Okuyama, where they received first-hand information about the reconstruction works in the areas devastated by the natural disaster.

During the meeting, Ambassador Kosmas reiterated Mayor Okuyama the solidarity and support of the government and people of Panama for the prompt recovery of Sendai City and the region of Tohoku, expressing his admiration for the rapid recovery process.

After the meeting, the delegation of GRULAC ambassadors participated in a tour around Tagonishi area of  Miyagino District in Sendai, accompanied by a group of experts in charge of the reconstruction work.

The visit offered a good opportunity to strengthen diplomatic and personal ties with Sendai City, and served to convey a clear message that Latin America and the Caribbean countries continues to pay close attention to the recovery process of the affected areas.

H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and Ms. Emiko Okuyama, Mayor of Sendai

Comments of H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, during his visit to Sendai of Tohoku

During the meeting with Ms. Emiko Okuyama, Mayor of Sendai

Standing in second position from left to right, H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, with Ms. Emiko Okuyama, Mayor of Sendai (first row, second from left) and ambassadors of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Apostolic Nunciature organized the above mentioned event, which counted with the presence of the Diplomatic Missions in Japan as well as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan.

Mr. Masaru Kojima, General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, gave a tour of the Arakawa Water Museum, explaining the history of Akarawa River and the work which was performed by Engineer Aoyama.

On the occasion of his visit, Ambassador Kosmas offered a flower arrangement in memory of Mr. Aoyama. Mr. Aoyama learned excavations and canalization techniques during his experience at the Panama Canal, which he used to prevent frequent floods of Sumida River in the Tokyo area, in the early 20^th century.

During the meeting with Mr. Kojima, Ambassador Kosmas reiterated the importance of the work performed by the Engineer Aoyama, which was indispensable for the development of Japan, and also the need to disseminate to Japanese citizens about his work.

Mr. Kojima appreciated the visit of Ambassador Kosmas and his wife, expressing his interest in that Panama and Japan strengthen relations through sister museums of both countries.

H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and his wife Mrs. Ileana de la Guardia de Kosmas, hearing the explication of Mr. Masaru Kojima, General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan

H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and his wife Mrs. Ileana de la Guardia de Kosmas, hearing the explication of Mr. Masaru Kojima, General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, in the Arakawa Water Museum

From left to right side, Mr. Yoshinori Itou, Deputy General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, Mr. Masaru Kojima, General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and his wife Mrs. Ileana de la Guardia de Kosmas, in front of the monument in honor of Mr. Akira Aoyama

Mr. Uranishi offered a tour of the market center to Ambassador Kosmas, explaining the functions and current status of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Ambassador Kosmas informed Mr. Uranishi about the Stock Exchange as well as the economic growth of Panama, exchanging views on investments in both countries

Mr. Uranishi appreciated the visit of Ambassador Kosmas, expressing his interest in that Panama and Japan strengthen diplomatic and commercial relations.

H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and Mr. Tomoyoshi Uranishi, Senior Executive Officer of Tokyo Stock Exchange Group, Inc.

H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and Mr. Tomoyoshi Uranishi, Senior Executive Officer of Tokyo Stock Exchange Group, Inc.

H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and Mr. Tomoyoshi Uranishi, Senior Executive Officer of Tokyo Stock Exchange Group, Inc.

The article of Forbes can be viewed at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestravelguide/2012/01/26/why-your-next-trip-should-be-to-panama/

It is important to point out that Panama received more than 2 million tourists in 2011 for the first time, and it is expected further growth for the tourism sector in the coming years.

The article of New York Times can be viewed at: http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/travel/45-places-to-go-in-2012.html?pagewanted=all&smid=fb-share

Caballero arrived in Tokyo 10 days before the match to carry out an intense and final training at Teiken Gym, where he received the visit of H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, who conveyed him words of support and wishes for success in his next fight.

After this victory, the Panamanian boxer maintains a record of 40 fights with 36 wins and 4 defeats.

In the center, Panamanian boxer Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero, accompanied by H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan (on his right), Mr. Ritter N. Diaz, Economic Counsellor of the Embassy of Panama and other members of the training team.

On the left, Panamanian boxer Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero during the fight

By unanimous decision of referees, the Panamanian boxer is declared the winner.