INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS MEET IN NEW YORK FOR 1ST ANNUAL GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE LEADERSHIP FORUM

NEW YORK, NY, December 13, 2007 – “The most important infrastructure project in Latin America,” is how Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta described the Panama Canal expansion project. Addressing a crowd of 300 industry professionals at the 1st Annual Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum in New York City yesterday, Mr. Alemán outlined key elements of the waterway’s largest construction project in its history.

During his keynote speech, Mr. Alemán highlighted the importance of the expanded waterway and said: “The expansion of the Panama Canal is the most important infrastructure project of the region. It will benefit not only Panama, but the region and the world as well. We are constantly working on modernizing the existing Canal, and with an expanded waterway, we will be able to accommodate larger ships with more tonnage. The Panama Canal has always been vital to world commerce and shipping. Our goal is to become the transportation and logistics hub of the Americas.”

The Expansion Program will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity and allow more traffic, longer and wider ships. Currently, the Canal services more than 144 different transportation routes from every corner of the globe as it lies within a critical area where trade routes emerge and connect.

Sponsored by CG/LA Infrastructure, the forum, held from December 12-14, focused on regional, national and global project opportunities and brought together essential participants in modern infrastructure design and financing.

The list of top-level speakers included Dominican Republic Secretary of State Eddy Martinez and Kazakhstan Minister of Industry and Trade Galym Orazbakov.

In addition to the presentations, the forum provided an opportunity for attendees to conduct private meetings with project leaders to foster connections. Event coordinators also organized roundtables and workshops on infrastructure project development.

About CG/LA Infrastructure

CG/LA Infrastructure provides consulting services for infrastructure projects and conducts development studies, political risk analysis and financial due diligence. The company focuses on the creation of new value in the world’s infrastructure marketplace.

About the Panama Canal Authority

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The ACP is governed by its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP’s Web site: http://www.pancanal.com/. For Panama Canal video, please visit http://www.thenewsmarket.com/panamacanal.

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This material is distributed by DJE, Inc. on behalf of the Panama Canal Authority. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.