Alberto Alemán Zubieta, chief executive officer of the Panama Canal Authority/Autoridad del Canal de Panama (ACP), is scheduled to address a plenary session focusing on economic development during the Pan-American Convention of Engineers/Union Pan Americana de Asociaciones de Ingenieria (UPADI) hosted by the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), September 19-22, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is the autonomous agency that manages the Panama Canal, the leading interoceanic waterway that serves world maritime commerce.

Under his leadership, Zubieta has transformed the Panama Canal into a world leader in services to the maritime industry, positioning the Canal as a key pathway for global transportation. He will share his thoughts and best practices.

"Panama has successfully managed and operated the Canal since the United States handover in 1999," said Zubieta. "We have continued to set the bar higher for efficiency, safety and reliability, while at the same time enhancing economic development opportunities for our country. The Canal certainly represents a cornerstone of infrastructure for the Latin American region and serves as a key asset for those seeking to do business here."

A native of Panama City, Republic of Panama, Zubieta graduated from Texas A&M University with dual degrees in industrial and civil engineering. Prior to joining ACP in 1996, he served as CEO of one of the largest construction companies in the country. In 1998, he was appointed Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, the new Panamanian entity tasked with the management of the waterway upon its transfer from the U.S. to the Republic of Panama. During the following two years, Zubieta served simultaneously as Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission and the Panama Canal Authority, ensuring that the decisions taken under the Commission administration would have continuity under the new Canal Authority.

Founded in 1949, UPADI represents a membership of approximately 2.5 million engineers from 26 member countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The goal of the organization is to advance science and technology to benefit humanity through hemispheric cooperation. The organization seeks to develop action plans, encourage outside funding, and work for the economic development of the nations served. The UPADI conference was last hosted by the United States in 1990 in Washington, D.C.

Registration and conference details for UPADI can be found at http://www.upadi2006.com/english/index.shtml or contact Diana Turner at 404-385-3510 for additional information.