July 15, 2008                 USPA Southeast Chapter Inauguration, keynote speaker was Hon. Carmen Gisela Vergara, Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce  (Atlanta, GA)                  

July 15, 2008                 USPA SE Chapter Panama Day- Governor of the State of Georgia, Sonny Perdue, proclaimed the day of July 15, 2008, as PANAMA DAY in Georgia and commend the U.S.-Panama Business Council for its invaluable importance to the State of Georgia.

July 23, 2008                 Strategic alliance with The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and the South Carolina State Ports Authority, which owns and operates the Port of Charleston, renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a three-year term. The renewed MOU solidifies ACP’s commitment to international trade and serves as a model of progress and opportunity.

 August 17 – 19, 2008    The Americas Competitiveness Forum II – Promoting Prosperity and Economic Opportunity in Central & South America (Atlanta, GA).  USPA SE organized business meetings for USA businesses with Severo Sousa, Panama’s Vice Minister of Foreign Trade & Commerce

August 25, 2008            International Partners Council (IPC) Consular Corps (Atlanta, GA).  Organized by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (Atlanta, GA) USPA SE was recognized as the organization promoting the need for an honorary consular office in Atlanta, GA serving the southeast region except Florida because Florida has two consular offices.

September 16, 2008       Panama Forum 2008 Theme: Panama- Where Global Routes Intersect and Businesses Connect.  Organized by the Embassy of Panama & the Panama Chamber of Commerce (Washington, DC)

Confirmed Speakers:

H.E. Martin Torrijos, President of the Republic of Panama

H.E. Samuel Lewis Navarro, First Vice President & Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama

H.E. Carmen G. Vergara, Minister of Commerce & Industry of Panama

Mr. Alberto Aleman Zubieta, Panama Canal Administrator

                                          Luis R. Hall, USPA SE President

October 22-24, 2008  USPA Panama Week XIV

Theme: Surging Ahead withConfidence

                                    Organized by the U.S.-Panama Business Council (USPA)           

Election of USPA Southeast Chapter Board of Director Officers and Board meeting (Washington, DC)