Message from Ambassadors★
★

Panama and Japan:
Looking for Closer
Maritime Relationships
Ritter N. DiazChargé d’ Affairs, a.i.
Embassy of Panama in Japan

Ritter Diaz has been serving in the Panama Embassy in Japan for 15 years andsince 2011, he became Economic Counsellor. From November 2014, he wasappointed Consul General of Panama in Tokyo. Mr. Diaz has vast knowledge ofJapanese culture, which he gained through his studies at a Japanese University
and work experience at Panasonic Latin America S.A., before coming to Japanin 1996.

Iwould like to begin by expressing my thankfulness toJapan Institute for Overseas Investment (JOI) for inviting me to contribute to the JOI magazine 2015 Edition on
the Panama Canal Expansion.
In this connection, I would like to inform that by invitationof Mr. Jorge Quijano, Administrator of the Panama Canal, I
had the opportunity to participate in the official ceremony toreceive the last four gates for the new locks, which arrived
on November 12 at the Atlantic side of the Canal. With thisshipment, all the gates are in Panama ready for their installation in due course.
After the ceremony, Administrator Quijano personally
guided a tour through the new lock under construction,
where we could appreciate the advance of the expansion

program, which has reached 80 per cent of completion asof October 2014.
If everything continues as scheduled, we will see the newlocks operating in the first quarter of 2016, according toAdministrator Quijano.

The Panama Canal Authority is well aware of the importance to conclude the expansion work at the earliest
possible date, and in particular for Japan to begin the shipment of shale gas from the east coast of United States toJapan and other Asian countries.
The Panama Canal Authority is also studying the new toll
structure, which will be applied in a timely manner. As Administrator Quijano mentioned in his recent visit to Tokyo,
the new toll structure will be set in line withthe market value of the Panama Canal vis-àvis other competitors such as the Suez Canaland the intermodal system of the US.
In addition, the timeline for the new toll
structure will allow the shipping industry
enough time to carry out the proper adjustment in the pricing of their products to theircustomers.

SS Ancon, the first ship to transit the Panama Canal on August 15th, 1914.
4

2015.1

Understanding that the shipping industry is
as cost-sensitive as any other industry, thePanama Canal Authority is developing newservices around the Canal to generate othersources of revenues in order not to solely rely on regular toll increases. Such services

パナマ運河拡張 特集
include energy generation, bunkering,ship repair, new container terminal, among
others.

It is important to point out that the Panama Canal Authority has maintained aconstant dialogue with major shipping organizations all over the world to hear theiropinions in regard to the impact of toll
increases as well as the performance ofthe maritime industry.
On this regard, there has been a close consultation with the Japanese Shipowners’
Association, and most recently, the Panama Canal Authority, together with thePanama Maritime Authority engaged in aPolicy Dialogue over maritime issues
with the Ministry of Transport, Land, Infrastructure and Tourism of Japan toexchange views at the governmental level,deepening the commitment of further cooperation between Japan and Panama inthe maritime sector.
I hope that this governmental dialogue
contributes to increase the competitiveness of both countries in the international
maritime community. I also hope that thePanama Canal will continue to add value
to better serve the Japanese shipping businesses.
Thank you.

During the Photographic Exhibition of the Panama Canal in Tokyo on the occasion of
100th Anniversary of the Panama Canal with the presence of Mr. Jorge Quijano,
Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority at Instituto Cervantes, Tokyo.

During a meeting with representatives of the Agency for Natural Resources andEnergy of Japan.

＊ This message was contributed in November 2014.

JOI 特別会員『パナマ大使館』のご紹介
パナマ大使館では、パナマ−日本間の貿易、投資、観光のプロモーションを行っています。パナマは北南米大陸の中心に位置し、その好立地条件によりラテンアメリカ・カリブ海地域における投資機会に大変恵まれています。日本語でお気軽にお問い合わせください。

パナマ大使館
TEL: 03-3499-3741
E-Mail: panaemb@gol.com

Maritime seminar on Panama Canal and Maritime Affairs, hosted by the Ministry ofLand, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, which was held on November
21st, 2014 in Tokyo.

2015.15