Engineer Ilya Espino de Marotta, Deputy Administrator and Chief of the Sustainability Office of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP); H.E. Carlos Guevara Mann, Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation of Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Sally Loo Hui, Ambassador of Panama to the Netherlands; Mr. Eduardo Márquez Castillero, Consul General of Panama in Rotterdam.

The Hague, Netherlands, March 14, 2025 – The Embassy of Panama in The Hague successfully held the conference titled “Panama Canal: 25 Years of Panamanian Administration”, an event featuring distinguished panelists and representatives from various sectors.

The Ambassador of Panama to the Netherlands, H.E. Sally Loo Hui, officially opened the event, highlighting the historical, economic, and strategic significance of the Canal for both Panama and the world. In her remarks, she emphasized the success of the Panamanian management model over the past 25 years and its prospects for the future.

The panel featured the distinguished participation of H.E. Carlos Guevara Mann, Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation of Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He discussed the historical background of the Canal and the significance of the Neutrality Treaty and the Panama Canal Treaty in securing Panamanian sovereignty over this vital interoceanic route.

Additionally, Engineer Ilya Espino de Marotta, Deputy Administrator and Chief of the Sustainability Office of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), provided a detailed overview of the Canal’s current situation. She emphasized ongoing projects focused on environmental sustainability and technological expansion to ensure the future competitiveness of the maritime route.

The event gathered members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Netherlands, representatives of the Dutch government, international organizations, maritime and logistics industry entrepreneurs, academics, and members of the Panamanian community residing in the Netherlands.

Later in the afternoon, the conference was held again at Leiden University, specifically aimed at students, academics, and the general public. This session sought to raise awareness and foster a broader dialogue on the importance of the Panama Canal and its future perspectives. During this session, H.E. Sally Loo Hui donated the book “The Expansion of the Panama Canal, Portraits of a Historic Work / Volume IV” to the Latin American Studies program of the Faculty of Humanities.

Both sessions concluded with a valuable exchange between attendees and panelists, who agreed on the importance of continuing to strengthen the Panamanian administration model of the Canal, ensuring its global competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

Ms. Marcia Nogueria, Embassy Staff; Mr. Eduardo Carreño, Attaché for International Cooperation and Academic Affairs;
Mrs. Ilya Espino de Marotta; H.E. Carlos Guevara Mann; H.E. Sally Loo Hui; Mr. Renato Famiglietti, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Panama; Mrs. Johanna Van Toor, Embassy Staff; Mr. Jorge Corrales Hidalgo, Attaché for Multilateral Affairs.

Read the article about the welcome of Ambassador H.E. Sally Loo Hui to the Netherlands by Dutch society.