Posted by: Editor on Aug 16, 2006 – 12:30 PM
newsandinfo The possibility of direct flights between the Bahamas and South America will be one of the key discussion topics when Ministry of Tourism and Bahamas Chamber of Commerce executives embark on a five-day trade mission to Panama next month.
Chamber president Tanya Wright yesterday explained that the mission, scheduled for September 25-29, was another example of a partnership between the private and public sectors that was designed to boost the Bahamas’ economic development.
She said the mission came as a direct result of a meeting she had with Copa Airlines, which explored the possibility of the airline flying direct to Nassau in 2007. In addition to developing a potential South American tourist market, Mrs. Wright said direct flights could also facilitate business opportunities that could be derived from Panama and other Latin American countries.
Mrs. Wright added that at the moment, there were no direct flights between the Bahamas and South America, with passengers having to travel to this nation via Miami, and through other US destinations.
In addition to exploring travel and direct flight benefits, Mrs. Wright said the trip will serve as a fact-finding mission to see what other possibilities there were for business opportunities and linkages between the Bahamas and Panama. This mission will include a meeting between the Chamber of Commerce and representatives of the Colon Free zone Association, the Atlantic gateway to the Panama Canal.
The Colon Zone is dedicated to re-exporting an enormous variety of merchandise to Latin America and the Caribbean. The closest Bahamian comparison to this area is Freeport and the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.
Mrs. Wright said that the Panama Canal could also facilitate the transportation of goods between China and the Bahamas, as this nation continues to explore linkages with that area of the world. The benefits of increased links with Panama are obvious for Freeport. Hutchison Whampoa, the Chinese conglomerate, owns the two container terminals at each of the Panama Canal.
Hutchison Whampoa also has a major presence in Freeport, where it owns and runs [the] Freeport Container Port, and is Port Group Limited’s major partner in entities such as Freeport Harbour Company, Grand Bahama Airport Company and the Sea/Air Business Centre.
Therefore, the opportunity to further deepen links with China and Panama in the transshipment of goods to Freeport, where they can be assembled and distributed to other nations in the Western Hemisphere, is a major one on this mission.
The trade mission is being organized by the Bahamas Tourist Office Latin America, COPA Airlines and the Panama Chamber of Commerce.
Source: The Tribune