Speeches 2003

June 18, 2003

Remarks by Christopher McMullen, Minister-Counselor of the U.S. Embassy, at the inauguration of INFOCOM 2003, Atlapa Convention Center

It is a pleasure to be here with you this evening. The United States Embassy is delighted to participate in Infocom 2003. This important and timely event, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce of Panama, celebrates Panama's success as a regional leader in information technology and telecommunications.

I can think of no country better suited to host a conference of this kind. Panama has become a digital crossroads offering state-of-the-art telecommunications. This technology is supporting the development and operation of data transmission and call centers.

The U.S. government has been pleased to support Panama's efforts to strengthen its information technology sector. A good example is the assistance that the U.S. Agency for International Development gave to the Supreme Court for modernization of Panama's judicial registry. The registry now provides immediate electronic access to decisions of the Supreme Court.

Until this system became operational in 2002, it took months to obtain the texts of Supreme Court decisions. The automated system represents a major advance for lawyers, law students, and the general public.

At the same time, the Government of Panama and the United States worked together with the U.S. private sector to develop Panama's E-Government law, one of the most innovative and forward looking such statutes in the Hemisphere.

We commend the IT Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce of Panama for organizing InfoCom 2003. We wish you the best during these two days of conferences and exhibitions. I hope and believe that InfoCom can become the most important IT event in Central America.

Congratulations to everyone involved.