History

USPAW is the newly created Chapter of the bi-national non-profit organization, the United States – Panama Business Council (USPA). USPA USA and USPA Panama, were created and launched in 1994 with the mission to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Panama and foster business opportunities.

The current President of USPA USA is the former Panamanian Ambassador to the United States, Amb. Juan B. Sosa and its current CEO is Hon. Jerry Weller, Member of US Congress 1995-1999. Past leadership has included Thomas F. (Mack) McLarty, Counselor to the President; Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown; Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters; Undersecretary of Commerce, Kenneth Juster; George Allen, former Governor of Virginia; Congressman of Virginia, Tom Davis and Steve Forbes, among others. The United States – Panama Business Council’s (USPA USA) policies and strategic planning office is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and its administrative office is in Houston, Texas. USPA-Panama has its headquarters in Panama City, Panama.

Since its foundation, USPA has been a leader in linking more than 5,000 North American entrepeneurs by means of business conferences about Real Estate, Transportation, Tourism, Telecommunications and International Trade, among others. USPA has also supported humanitarian causes, contributed to the political relations and friendship between the two countries. USPA has also been instrumental in the creation of the City of Knowledge (Ciudad del Saber) in Panama where important Biotechnology companies have been installed. Other sectors with important USPA contributions include: Healthcare, Education, Energy, Finance and Infrastructure.

The USPA West Chapter (USPAW) was approved by USPA Board of Directors in March 26, 2012. It is currently headquartered in Costa Mesa, California and includes the Western United States of California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington State, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii. The mission of USPAW is to Promote Business between the Western United States and Panama in connection to Global Trade.

The recent ratification of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Panama, in addition to the economic growth of the country fueled by large investments in infrastructure, the creation of the maritime, logistics and aviation hub, and the Expansion of the Panama Canal and other economic sectors, have attracted the attention of business leaders and investors especially looking to the opportunities that the FTA and the Economic Expansion are creating. We are committed to build networks that will enable the Expansion of your business throughout the World. USPAW is your Connection to Global Trade.