WWL-TV

Mayor Nagin

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin along with two state representatives from the city and some other local officials will be taking a trip to Panama for a fact-finding mission in preparation for the expansion of the Panama Canal.

According to a news release from the mayor’s office, the trip, which begins Saturday will include visits to two of Panama’s largest ports and meetings with critical agencies to develop relationships as the region prepares for the expansion of the canal, which is scheduled to be complete in 2014.

“This trip is evidence of the commitment I have made to working with our neighboring parishes to create a confederacy of Ports from New Orleans to the mouth of the Mississippi with a single mission -- to make sure we can compete for this new business that will come as a result of Panama Canal’s expansion,” said Nagin.

The visit to Panama is Nagin's third trip abroad this year. It follows trips to China and South Africa during which Nagin said he explored the economic success of their port systems.