Panama Canal renews alliance with U.S. port
PANAMA CITY, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Panama Canal and the Port of Savannah in Georgia, the United States, renewed Tuesday a strategic alliance for three years to further their cooperation, the Authority of the Panama Canal (ACP) said Tuesday.
"The renewed alliance of the Canal with the Port Authority of Georgia (APG) is a strong indicator of our cooperation with the maritime industry and our clients," Panamanian Interoceanic Administrator Alberto Aleman Zubieta said.
Aleman said the renewal would facilitate Panama to take maximum advantage of the resources to boost the maritime innovation and improve the services.
Aleman said the ACP-APG association, which was established in June 2003, is "an important link for the future growth of both sides which opens the door for new business opportunities and offers economic solutions in a sustainable way" for them.
Last year, the Port of Savannah distributed 13.9 million tons of goods through the Panama Canal, a showcase of the importance of the alliance and the role of both sides in the world trade.
The Port of Savannah, near the Bahamas in the Atlantic, is the fourth biggest U.S. port. With fast expansion, it has become an important hub along the eastern coast of the country.
Dough J. Marchand, APG executive director, attributed the port's 42-percent increase of volume in 2007 largely to the freight through the Panama Canal.
"This renewed strategic alliance will allow Savannah and Panama to continue improving their services to our clients and generate new business opportunities for Georgia and the southeast of the United States," he said.
