Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04PANAMA153
2004-01-23 21:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Panama
Cable title:  

BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (PANAMA): NEW VICE MINISTER

Tags:  ETRD PINR PM ECON 
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UNCLAS PANAMA 000153 

SIPDIS


USTR FOR A.GASH-DURKIN AND J.WOLFE
USDOC4332/ITA/MAC/WH/OLAC/MGAISFORD
FOR INR/B


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD PINR PM ECON
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (PANAMA): NEW VICE MINISTER
OF TRADE, ROMEL ADAMES

UNCLAS PANAMA 000153

SIPDIS


USTR FOR A.GASH-DURKIN AND J.WOLFE
USDOC4332/ITA/MAC/WH/OLAC/MGAISFORD
FOR INR/B


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD PINR PM ECON
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (PANAMA): NEW VICE MINISTER
OF TRADE, ROMEL ADAMES


1. Romel Adames (42) was appointed Vice Minister for Trade
at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI) by President
Moscoso on January 1, 2004. Adames, Harvard-educated and
until recently Panama's Ambassador to the WTO, will be the
lead negotiator for the GOP during the upcoming FTA
negotiations with the United States. Adames replaces Meliton
Arrocha, who was appointed head of CLICAC (Panama's
Competition Authority). Adames, a confidant of Commerce
Minister Joaquin Jacome, enters the position with
considerable trade experience having also participated in
Panama's WTO accession in 1997.



2. Adames is a strong advocate regarding the benefits of
trade liberalization and a believer in the multilateral
trading system. His main challenges will be establishing
guidelines and priorities for Panama as well as outreach to
the private sector during this election year. (Note: National
elections are scheduled for May 2, with a new administration
taking office on September 1.) While the GOP would like the
first FTA negotiating round to take place before the May 2
national elections, Jacome and Adames insist the Moscoso
Administration will treat the FTA negotiations as a State
endeavor and keep politics out of the process. Both plan
extensive consultation with the economic advisors of
opposition political candidates and the wider private sector.
(Note: All political parties support the negotiation of a FTA
with the U.S.)



3. Biographical Information:


D/POB: July 20, 1961 in Panama City, Panama


Marital Status: Divorced


Education:
- 1996. Awarded master's degree in Public Administration and
certificate in International Tax Law in a joint program
between the Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of
Government at Harvard University.
- 1989. Awarded master's degree in International and
Comparative Law (Cum Laude) from Vrije University in
Brussels, Belgium.
- 1988. Awarded bachelor's degree in Law and Political
Science from the University of Santa Maria La Antigua in
Panama.


Previous Professional Experience:
- 2002. Appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative of
Panama to the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland.
- 2001. Appointed Commissioner (but never ratified) of
Panama's Competition Authority (CLICAC).
- 1999. Named head of the Financial Department at Hutchinson
Whampoa Ltd. in Panama City, Panama.
- 1996. Hired as a consultant for Price Waterhouse Coopers
in Panama City, Panama.
- 1993. Appointed Commercial Counselor at Panama's Embassy
to the European Union and Belgium.
- 1990. Hired as a legal consultant to Panama's Ministry of
the Presidency.


Languages:
- Native: Spanish
- Foreign: French and English (excellent)
WATT