Last March 10, 2012 a recognized engineer with 36 years of services in the Panama Canal, was designated as Canal Administrator for the period 2012 – 2019. Jorge Quijano, who is the current Vice-President of the Engineering and Program Administration Department, will be the person in charge to conclude the Panama Canal expansion consisting in the building of a third set of locks, work which is executed by the Republic of Panamá at an approximate cost of US$5,200 million. The Panama Canal expansion, which will be concluded in 2014, will allow the transit of POST-PANAMAX vessels with larger dimensions and loading capacity which will increase the port activity in Panama.
During 2011, the Panamanian ports mobilized 6.6 million of TEU Containers. Port Authorities anticipate that this amount will be increased if from 8 to10% in 2012, and once the expansion is concluded, this amount is expected to increase significantly.
Panamanian Law enforcement authorities are conscious of this reality and are focused in elaborating profiles to make effective their functions to detect containers with possible counterfeit products. Due to these important changes in the worldwide maritime traffic and economy, Panama is a key country for a company to implement an Anti-Counterfeiting Program.
Panama, a key country to implement your Anti – Counterfeiting Program.
The New York Times has selected Panama as the # 1 place to go in 2012. Everybody is talking about Panama! But Panama is more than The Panama Canal. It also has a rich history and culture as well as , beaches, mountains, fishing, diving, shopping, and skyscrapers. Panama is also a key country to implement your Anti – Counterfeit Program. Check this out:
1. Due to The Panama Canal and The Colon Free Zone (the second largest free Zone in the world after Hong Kong) Panama is a mandatory stop for cargo ships, mainly for transshipment, and for other purposes, in Panamanian ports.
2. According to 2011-2012 Global Competitiveness Report of The World Economic Forum, PANAMA is in # 5 place in quality port facilities with solid port infrastructures. Panama, for the second consecutive year, depicts the strongest competitive position in Central America. Currently PANAMA connects 144 maritime routes. In 2020 Panama should become the logistic maritime hub of The Americas.
3. In 2011, Panamanian ports received 6.6 million TEU containers.
4. The final destination of more than 80% of the containers in 2011 was either Central or South America countries, including the Caribbean Islands.
5. During the last two years, Customs and other law enforcement authorities inspected and seized approximately more than 3,000 containers with counterfeit goods. Panamanian law enforcement authorities have the power to seize goods in transit, no matter what their final destination is. Seizures will increase. This is the result of an enforcement of the IP Laws and effective customs borders measures and customs recordals.
6. The Risk Analysis Unit of Panama Customs is focused in developing risk analysis profiles of potential containers with fake goods. To support these activities, UNODC implemented in 2010 the “Global Container Control Program”, which has become a successful tool to combat the trading of counterfeit goods in Panama. In 2011 The World Customs Organization (WCO) structured in Panama “Operation Tigre I” in May and “Operation Tigre II” in December. As a result, approximately 100 containers were inspected and seized with counterfeit goods during the operations.
Panama is leading the fight against the trading of counterfeit goods in the region. Panamanian law enforcement authorities have assumed and undertaken anti counterfeit commitments as a State policy in accordance to the International Community requirements.
You should be part of these changes. Don’t get late! Please feel free to contact us if you are interested to know about Panama’s law enforcement strategy.
It would be our honor to assist you in the implementation of your Anti -Counterfeiting Plan in Panama.
Contact: Hugo Morán R. | Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán | Tel.: (507) 205-6125 | 205-6000 | Fax: (507) 223-7456
Email:hugom@icazalaw.com| www.icazalaw.com | P.O. Box 0823-02435 Panama, Republic of Panama
Hugo Morán R. will attend IACC/INTA meetings from May 2-9, 2012 in Washington, D.C.
On October 25th, ICAZA GONZÁLEZ RUIZ & ALEMÁN participated as invited speaker of the Superintendence of Banks of Panama…
Last October 17th, Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Alemán through its associate attorney, Rosaura González Marcos gave a training…
ICAZA, GONZALEZ-RUIZ & ALEMAN is pleased to inform its Participation as Sponsor of the Forum “International Arbitration against the Challenges of the TPC with the United States of America”…
The Latin-American Congress of Trusts is an event that the Federation of Latin American Banks FELABAN and Latin American Committee of Trust (COLAFI) hold annually.
The legislature of the Republic of Panama has recently approved several amendments to the Trademark Law.
The BVI Business Companies (Amendment) Act, 2012, and the associated BVI Business Companies Regulations…
SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB, holder of “SONY” mobiles, carried out in Panama City, a training to detect counterfeit goods on September 14th.
During the past September 20th and 21st, in Panama City, Louis Vuitton, currently considered as the most exclusive luxury brand in the world, carried out a training to detect counterfeited merchandise.
Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán have been renowned for its remarkable performance in the 17th Edition of MIP…
The entry into force of the polemical Law 30 of June 16th, 2010 generated serious doubts concerning the deduction of the union dues by the employers…
Icaza, González-Ruiz & Aleman is very pleased to announce the admission of Mr. Moisés Iván Rivera A., as associate of our firm.
Mr. Moisés Iván Rivera A. is a graduate from the School of Law and Political Sciences of Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencias y Tecnología (ULACIT). He also attended the Corporate Law and Finances Seminar at [...]
We are pleased to inform the admission of Attorneys Ana Graciela Medina, Hugo Morán Rodríguez and Luis Chalhoub Moreno as Partners of the law firm Icaza González-Ruiz & Alemán.
We are proud to announce that last December 4th, 2012, our Partner Luis Chalhoub M. took office as new President of STEP (2012-2014) Panama Chapter.
Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán have been renowned for its remarkable performance in the 17th Edition of MIP…
We are pleased to announce that our firm was nominated during the Chambers Latin America Awards…
Last April 18th, the Panama Bar Association conducted the academic event entitled “Legal Regime of Public Contracting in Panama”, in which our associate attorney, Mariela De La Guardia participated. At the event, participants had the opportunity to expand their knowledge related to challenge and appeal remedies within the framework of public contracting, as well as [...]
We invite you to visit us and get to know more about the wide range of legal services we offer. Visit us at stand V03’s of the well-known maritime exhibition, Sea Asia, to be held from 9 to 11 April at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Susan Ow, Manager of Icaza (Singapore) Ltd., will be very [...]
Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman, represented by our partner, Luis A. Chalhoub M. was part of the “Mergers and Acquisitions in Latin America” conference organized by the International Bar Association, held in Lima, Peru, from 13 to 15 March 2013. It was a pleasure for our firm to share with its colleagues participants and deepens more [...]
Icaza, González-Ruiz & Aleman attended North America’s Premier International Shipping Trade Conference and Exposition: SHIPPING 2013, being our Partner Dr. Alexis Herrera Jr. our representative at the event.
The Panama Maritime XI Conference & Exhibition was successfully held in Panama from the 27th of February to the 1st of March, 2013. Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz &Aleman participated in this event as trade show exhibitor and sponsor, being part of the group “The Major Maritime Law Firms of Panama“.
Our maritime law attorneys, Joel Medina, Alexis Herrera [...]
Marisol T. Ellis, attorney of Bufete IGRA, Litigation & ADR Division of Icaza, González-Ruiz & Aleman, represented our firm in the “16th Annual IBA International Arbitration Day” conference held in Bogota, Colombia, the past 21 and 22 February 2013.
The event was organized by the International Bar Association and the Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá and [...]
With the theme “Legal Effects of Documentary Evidence”, our attorney, Marisol Ellis of Bufete IGRA, Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution of Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman, participated as a panelist in the 11th International Litigation and Arbitration Conference (ILAC), held last March 1st in Miami, U.S.A. This conference brings together the most well-known professionals in the [...]
Icaza´s Anti Counterfeit Unit in the framework of the “2012 International Law Enforcement Intellectual Property (IP) Crime Conference”…
On August 20, 2012, Oakley Inc., a leader in the manufacture of sunglasses and sportswear, offered training to detect counterfeit merchandise.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) granted the Award “Yolanda Benítez” to Dr. Gloria Moreno de López, Director of the National Customs Authority on the grounds that Panama has been the country more devoted to the fight against piracy and smuggling…
Main Office: Panama
Aquilino de la Guardia Street No. 8
IGRA Building, P.O. BOX 0823-02435
Panama, Republic of Panama
Tel: +507 205-6000
Fax: +507 269-4891