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Panama City, Charleston leaders to meet in Central America to discuss trade, culture


Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg at a press conference to announce the Panama City Trade Mission. (WCIV)
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg at a press conference to announce the Panama City Trade Mission. (WCIV)
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Charleston leaders are going the extra mile—literally—to increase export trade with Panama.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg announced the upcoming Panama City Trade Mission at a press conference Friday morning.

The first Charleston Sister Cities International trade mission is set for October 16-20.

Participants will meet with Panama City’s top municipal leaders and business community, engage in specifically designed business-to-business meetings, tour the Panama Canal, and visit historic Panama City, which will celebrate its 500th anniversary in 2019.

It's being held in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

With the Charleston Harbor Deepening project allowing Charleston to serve 20 post-Panamax vessel calls each week, the Holy City is expected to do more port business with the Central American country.

The trip’s mission, "will serve as a platform to expand commercial activities, boost trade enterprises, increase imports and exports, grow jobs, facilitate business-to-business dialogue, and encourage business tourism opportunities between the two cities," according to a press release from the city.

Additional goals for the trip are to promote exploration, communication and cooperation between local development agencies, Chambers of Commerce, and tourism bodies.

The trip comes about a year after Charleston and Panama City signed a "sister cities" agreement.

“My hope in signing our Sister City agreement with Panama City was that it would help us foster civic, cultural, and educational development and business ties between our two port cities,” Tecklenburg said.

Watch the press conference below:

South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said, “In a continued effort to grow our trade footprint, we are excited to partner with the Charleston Sister Cities International mission to Panama. It is no secret that a part of or state’s success is within exporting. We look forward to assisting our small businesses with strategic direction to expand their global reach.”

Neita Wiese, Charleston Sister Cities International President and CEO, said there are opportunities in Charleston for local business owners to be a part of this new trade mission.

A Panama Export Seminar will be held on August 10 for all business owners.

"The economic and trade potential this initial Charleston Sister Cities International trade mission to Panama can provide to not only the Charleston Region, but to our entire state, is considerable,” said Wiese. “There are many South Carolina export opportunities to explore, ranging from the automotive industry to agricultural commodities and food products.”

To learn more about the Panama Trade Mission and related events, contact Neita Wiese at scicharleston@gmail.com. The deadline to register to participate is September 1.

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