CURRENT ACP BOARD CHAIR DR. RICAURTE VÁSQUEZ SUBMITS RESIGNATION TO PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

GENERAL COMPTROLLER DANI KUZNIECKY TO HEAD ACP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PANAMA CITY, Panama, April 13, 2007 – The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board of Directors will soon welcome a new chairman, President Martín Torrijos announced yesterday. After accepting the resignation of current ACP Board Chairman Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez M., President Torrijos appointed General Comptroller Dani Kuzniecky to the position.

Dani KuznieckyWhile making the announcement, President Torrijos highlighted that Mr. Kuzniecky will take the helm at an important time for Panama as “the Canal expansion represents the most significant project for this government and the country.”

The President is confident that Mr. Kuzniecky will lead the Board of Directors with the same enthusiasm, disposition and energy as he did while managing Panama’s Office of the Comptroller General.

Additionally, President Torrijos acknowledged the significant contributions made by Dr. Vásquez, who led the development of the Canal Master Plan that included the Canal expansion project. He also spearheaded the process which resulted in the Panamanian people’s historic decision to expand the waterway. Dr. Vásquez served previously as concurrent Minister of Economics and Finance, during which time he implemented the fiscal reform that boosted and moved the Panamanian economy forward.

With more than a decade of service at the Canal, Dr. Vásquez has held a number of positions. While Chairman of the Board, he also held the rank of Minister for Canal Affairs. As deputy administrator from 2000-2004, Dr. Vásquez managed the ACP’s Master Plan initiative, which included the expansion of the waterway. He also enjoys the distinction of being the Canal´s first chief financial officer, a position he held from 1996-2002. Dr. Vásquez earned his Ph.D in managerial economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he also received his M.S. in operations research and statistics. He earned a M.S. in economics from North Carolina State University and a B.S. in mathematics from Villanova University.

Mr. Kuzniecky is a partner at Kuzniecky & Levy Co. and received his M.S. in comparative jurisprudence from New York University. He also has a degree in law and political science from Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua – Panama.

Dr. Vásquez leaves the ACP to pursue opportunities in the private sector.

About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on 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/.