{"id":7380,"date":"2005-10-07T17:16:13","date_gmt":"2005-10-07T17:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pancanal.com\/en\/?p=7380"},"modified":"2021-09-10T14:40:19","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T14:40:19","slug":"panama-canal-authority-forms-strategic-alliance-with-the-tampa-port-authority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pancanal.com\/en\/panama-canal-authority-forms-strategic-alliance-with-the-tampa-port-authority\/","title":{"rendered":"Panama Canal Authority Forms Strategic Alliance with the Tampa Port Authority"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida \u2019s Largest Port is the Latest to Strike Agreement with the Panama Canal;<\/em><\/p>\n

Alliance Will Boost Trade Between Tampa and Asia Through the Panama Canal;<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAll-Water Route\u201d is Safe, Reliable and Economical Link to\u00a0<\/em>Bring Asian Goods to U.S. Consumers<\/em><\/p>\n

PANAMA CITY, Panama, October 7, 2005 \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>With more than 60 percent of Panama Canal traffic originating from or traveling to the East Coast of the United States, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) yesterday announced an historic move to boost trade by striking a strategic alliance with the Tampa Port Authority. The alliance will increase cooperation \u2013 such as joint marketing \u2013 between the Panama Canal and the Port of Tampa; it will also seek to boost trade along the \u201c All-Water Route,\u201d the route from Asia to the U.S. East Coast via the Panama Canal.<\/p>\n

Yesterday\u2019s event was highlighted by a formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Panama by Administrator\/CEO of the ACP Alberto Alem\u00e1n Zubieta and Executive Director and CEO of the Tampa Port Authority Richard Wainio. By mutual agreement the ACP\/Tampa MOU will continue for one year and will be renewable on an annual basis. Also attending the ceremony were: Second Vice-President of the Republic of Panama and Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority Rub\u00e9n Arosemena Vald\u00e9s, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Panama and Chairman of the ACP Board of Directors Dr. Ricaurte V\u00e1squez M., Tampa Port Authority Chairman Gladstone A. Cooper, U.S. Ambassador to Panama William A. Eaton, Mayor of Tampa Pam Iorio, Chairman of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce Sam Ellison, and representatives from the Panama Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM).<\/p>\n

During the past few years, containerized cargo transiting the Panama Canal on the \u201c All-Water Route\u201d has experienced significant growth, creating jobs and contributing to economic development.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very excited to begin this new relationship with the Tampa Port Authority. Tampa is one of the fastest growing ports in the United States. We look forward to working with them to provide a safe, reliable and efficient service to our customers and serve the anticipated traffic and tonnage growth of the \u2018All-Water Route,\u2019\u201d said Canal Administrator\/CEO Alberto Alem\u00e1n Zubieta. \u201cThere will be real, tangible benefits from this agreement between the ACP and Tampa \u2013 a win-win situation for our customers, the people living in Tampa\/Central Florida and the Canal. The joint marketing, exchange of ideas and the sharing of information on modernization projects demonstrate our desire to execute solutions for the long-term growth needs of the shipping community and international trade,\u201d Alem\u00e1n concluded.<\/p>\n

The Tampa Port Authority is the largest port in Florida and handles nearly 50 million tons of cargo per year. Tampa also is one of the closest full service U.S. ports to the Panama Canal, and its strategic location provides the most direct route to Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n

The Port, which reliably moves container, bulk, break bulk, ro-ro, refrigerated and project cargoes, is currently expanding its container terminal handling capacity. Tampa is Florida\u2019s largest market and one of the fastest growing markets in the United States.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Tampa Port Authority is pleased to sign this important Memorandum of Understanding with the Panama Canal Authority. This new alliance focuses on promoting the \u2018 All-Water Route\u2019 between Asia and the Gulf Coast via the Panama Canal and is important not just for the Port of Tampa and the Canal, but also for international trade. The region is experiencing strong cargo growth and the Tampa Bay\/Central Florida market in particular is one of the fastest growing in the United States,\u201d said Tampa Port Director and CEO Richard Wainio.<\/p>\n

Specifically, the parties involved may conduct the following:<\/p>\n