Panama Pushes Canal Increase Abroad
Without ruling out important internal debates, the issue of a Panama Canal extension received a new government boost in an international tour to promote it.

Panamanian Foreign Minister and First Vice President Samuel Lewis Navarro is touring Europe to campaign for the extension plan in Britain and France as he did earlier in Vienna.

In the Austrian capital, Lewis Navarro extolled the initiative that includes construction of a third set of locks over seven years to expedite passage through the inter oceanic road.

The diplomat and President Martin Torrijos are carrying out similar efforts in other European nations, the US, Mexico, Colombia and members of the Central American Integration System.

In addition, the Panama Canal Authority has successfully promoted the project at meetings of the International Consultant Committee.

However, the matter continues to receive criticism at home where detractors consider the project absurd as it is beyond the reasonable reach of a small country with an underdeveloped economy.