Since September 2019 Ricaurte Vásquez Morales was appointed as administrator of the Panama Canal, the interoceanic waterway through which 4% of world trade passes and the heart of Panamanian logistics and economy. Vásquez’s leadership is for seven years until 2026. Prior to this position, the economist served as Minister of Finance and Treasury, Minister of Planning and Economic Policy, and Minister of Economy and Finance. He was also the first Panamanian Finance Director of the Panama Canal and Deputy Administrator and Chairman of the Board of Directors. D. in Managerial Economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, was an analyst at The Chase Manhattan Bank and worked with Rio Tinto Zinc in the development of the Cerro Colorado copper project, vice president for the “Gas to Power” initiative for Latin America.