Conference attendees included senior government and global business leaders from the maritime, financial, technology and construction industry.

The Government Roundtable was inaugurated by Panama's President Martín Torrijos, and continued with the opening session 'Reaping the Benefits of the Panama Canal Expansion'.

During the forum, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Lewis Navarro, ACP Board of Directors Chairman and Minister of Canal Affairs Dani Kuzniecky, ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta and Coyne et Bellier's Executive Vice President for Strategy and Development, Jean Binquet discussed the importance of the Canal's expansion as one of the main projects for the country's economic development.

Panama is leveraging its two primary assets, its natural geographic position and the Panama Canal, to create an aggressive development strategy. Key to Panama's strategic location is the waterway, whose expansion, is promoting development in sectors such as tourism, logistics, construction, and insurance.

The expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a third set of locks, which will double capacity and allow more traffic, longer and wider ships.