[00:00:38] Very good morning and welcome to another session of your Supply Chain Now program in Spanish. Today I have the pleasure and the pleasure to be talking with a very good friend of mine and he is going to be Micó host today. Demosthenes Perez, better known as Demos. Let’s see how it goes? How are you? How? How are you doing?
[00:00:59] Well, Enrique, very happy to be here. Very excited. These are truly opportunities that I value very much. And well, ready for a tremendous interview today.
[00:01:10] Yeah, well, no one really knows this, but I did have a very, very nice talk a couple of weeks ago, which even turned into an interview, and for the sake of technology, after we finished the interview it turns out that nothing was recorded on the computer. Then we’ll have to make another appointment to talk again in the future.
[00:01:33] Whenever you want, brothers, whenever you want.
[00:01:36] Well, now tell us who? Who do we have today?
[00:01:39] Look, today we are going to interview, I have to say, a great friend of many years and another colleague, another enthusiast of this industry, Juan Carlos Croton. Juan Carlos, eh? He works for a port and international organization as well, and is currently the president of the Caribbean Chipping Association’s Caribbean Ambassadors Association. So beyond being a great friend, as I have been telling you for many years, he is a great professional recognized in Panama, in Latin America. And now? Well, a few years ago, with a very strong presence in the Caribbean area, so I think we’re going to have a tremendous injection of information today. Perspective not only on a personal level, but also on a professional level and the future of our Latin American region.
[00:02:34] Yes, in fact we are very happy and we thank Juan Carlos Croton for joining us today. Juan Carlos describes himself as a positive, passionate, disciplined and kind person. Obviously we are very happy to have him here. Juan Carlos Quetal. Good morning!
[00:02:52] Day Henry today we must have children, that is, the theme of the injection is appropriate with the theme of the vaccine walking, but let’s see how Гl, how, how the conversation flows, take. Thanks for the invitation Enrique.
[00:03:07] What’s the status of the vaccine? It is a global logistics project, the likes of which has never been seen before. Speaking of the vaccine. How are you in Panama? You’re in Panama now, right?
[00:03:18] With Carlos? I am in Panama. I was born and raised here in Panama and have been out of the country. Not for study purposes. And I also worked on board ship. But now we will do it later on the subject of the vaccine up to Olympus. I think exceptions with countries that are ahead of the curve and I think it’s like Tequila, for example. And Los Mohs had an idea to make I don’t know how much cart. I have always been behind because they realize that production is very difficult and when you see charlatan, for example, every time someone goes to Chaltén, they say you are going to manufacture, no, no, no, no, don’t get into this. And nobody knows why the manufacturing, the production is super complicated. So, well, pharmacists have realized that that too the chain has the boot from the factory. It’s super complicated and I can imagine also that people working there and fall sick, production drops, so it’s a circle that you have there going on. Let’s see how it is set up in Panama. I was expecting to receive 40000 vaccine in January and only 12000 arrived. And well, I imagine walking. They see in Europe the fights that are going on between the European Union and pharmaceuticals, so we can expect no less here in Panama.
[00:04:32] If not it’s definitely going to be something that’s going to mark this year. As much as the pandemic marked last year and hopefully through the different logistics companies and the supply chain we will obviously achieve. As soon as possible. El. To offer this to the people who really need it and start vaccinating everyone. In fact, let’s talk a little bit about you at the beginning, Juan Carlos, we’d love to get to know you a little bit more as a person. Tell us a little more about yourself, your personality, how you? How? How did you get into this industry? The logistics?
[00:05:14] I basically grew up with my mom and my mom. A lot of things happened to me. She is an avid reader. He likes to read everything and not be heard. An actor, an author named Erich von Däniken. The guy believed that Machupichu was an extraterrestrial spaceship control. And this bears had all the books of him that the rider of Select was reading. So, well, that part of the reading was passed down to me by my mom from a heart that big. And well, this works because she’s very given to people, but she’s also very emotional. That whole package came together and well, I grew up in my family. There are several people who have worked on ships before and when I was coming out of high school my mom mentioned to her that there is a future in Panama because in the year 2000 the Panama Canal reverted from American hands to the Panamanian government. So it was shaping up to be a future for that and my mom and dad told me and we thought you should get in. I went to study at the Panama Nautical School which is a merchant marine school. And I studied and four years and then I embarked. One year I worked on board a container ship. We were literally going around the world, because I was leaving Panama. It went to Los Angeles, crossed the Pacific, arrived in Tokyo, Japan and Tokyo Osaka, Japan. Then on to the Pusan, in Korea. What Kachunes in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore. Then it crossed the Indian Ocean or reached an island in the south of India called Giri Lanca Trubia. The Red Sea crosses the TV channel. Mar Mediterrani went up to Europe and then I went.
[00:07:07] How old were you? At this moment of your life
[00:07:12] To have been. I was told it was an incredible experience for you. 21 years old. And the boat counts. So, what were you doing on the boat? It makes for an extremely good story.
[00:07:24] I, I, I, I was practicing to be an officer, so at that time I was a cadet and we did everything. We are learning the subject of navigation, the subject of boat maintenance, the subject of nautical charts, the subject of the watch, eh? And well, I digress here because that’s still in my little heart. Haven’t you heard the light theme of the crewmembers on the ships with the pandemic theme? Well, the staff, the crew and ships come up with a contract and then, after a certain time, six, eight or ten months without another person and gives rotation by the issue of the pandemic, has made it very difficult changes that currently there are estimated more than 400,000 crew members who have been working more than a year on the ship. And well, this never.
[00:08:12] I haven’t even imagined it. Obviously, since I’m not that involved in that part of the industry, I didn’t even imagine it was an issue. But now that you mention it, well, that makes sense. How can they? Is there any way to help these people? Virtually nothing else. It’s waiting for the good stuff.
[00:08:33] I wish there was more action. Maybe it’s been a problem of us in the industry not making these people visible, eh? Because you not knowing it is not a problem of us, not telling you as well as the online workers of nurses and doctors so, eh? Society at large should be aware of the 1.2 million boat people who make it possible for us to be in this flame at its hub. Let’s have our shoes, our clothes, our toys, our dumbbell, exercise. And well, the issue is that it is very complicated because they are not visible and governments do not give priorities to make changes. So for the agents who are in charge of this it is very complicated for them because there is so much change. One would tell me for example, look, I have to send a Filipino to the Philippines from Panama and I would send him via Holland. But what happened? The first trip he sent when the Filipino arrived in Holland the Philippine had closed the border. So he had to stay there when he could send the next Filipino, they told him No, no, no, no, no, Utrilla, send me a letter from the Philippines, from whoever, from the Ministry, to make sure that when he passes through here in transit in Holland, he’s going to get to his Philippine destination. So the regulations are constantly changing and there is an issue with these people, the psychological issue of mental issue not seen with their family and you have 400,000 crew members on board the ships and you have 400,000 people who are on land waiting to get on, to be able to work for.
[00:10:09] As you say, it’s something that doesn’t really add up. It is not a problem of major proportions and is not mentioned as much as it should be. So that can be one of our calls to action now in this, in this episode with you. I’ve already made a note of it here. And well, I think we owe a sincere thank you to all these people, because as you say, like the people who are in the trucks or the warehouses or the distribution, these people are literally risking their lives and are even getting stuck in different parts of the world to try to help us in this, in this pandemic and throughout these years. Totally, very good point.
[00:10:56] And it’s a good thing that they come to contribute there to dale, dale, dale que dale.
[00:11:00] I wanted to contribute, that it is definitely a topic that has only been discussed in the specialized media of the maritime world. I’ve seen some related news in the media that is, let’s say, much more open in the industry, but there is very little talk about this topic and it’s definitely a supremely important topic. Everything that we have a relationship with someone in the shipping world or the maritime world. We know the impact, but it has not been addressed in the way it should be. Product of this same lack of visibility, isn’t it?
[00:11:39] And naturally, the theme of port and going to their homes, but there is a romantic theme that one has in the head of the sailor who arrives in port and leaves. He’s got his girlfriend and everything. And the reality is that this is no longer the case. Ships, e.g. containers, stay 24 hours in port. Then 24 is the crew member’s turn to work 12 hours. And now with the pandemic, travel restrictions are many. So this person is basically in the boat. The twelve or fourteen or sixteen or ten months he’s been on the boat, he’s been on the boat. You can’t download to buy. You have to ask someone to carry the super complicated stuff for you.
[00:12:17] Super. Yeah, sure, that’s pretty much it. The lives of these people at the end of the day are something very interesting that we don’t normally know about, even people who have been in the industry for many years. So that’s something I’m very glad you mentioned. I think it’s a topic that we could do a whole episode on, maybe interviewing someone like you who has gone through this experience. But back to you, weren’t you saying then you had this incredible experience? I would say once in a lifetime to be on top of a ship and going to all these ports around the world. You’ve been doing that for how long?
[00:12:58] Juan Carlos was there for a year because I was there. I have had many people who have guided me positively in life. Then one of those people recommended me to continue studying. And then I applied to a university in Sweden called Di World Maitane University and I applied for a scholarship because we didn’t have the resources and an idea for the university with my mom’s money. My love, I have to live on the street. Fortunately that scholarship came through. So you can imagine what I think about the issue of education and the issue of financial support for people. But well, I left a year and a half ago, took a master’s degree in maritime affairs and returned to Panama. I already arrived in September, in October 2001, right after the September attack, so also the economy. And well, I was working in an import export company for a year and I think while I got an opportunity to work in the port operator that I work today, which is called Manzaneda International Terminal with which I have 17 years working with.
[00:14:03] Hey, that’s very interesting and well, let’s say you’re back with us, you’re going to, you’re going to take us a little bit by the hand through your professional career, but before we talk about that, going back a little bit to your childhood or your youth, you’ve mentioned your mom on several occasions. I imagine it’s an important example in your life. Some. Some kind of teaching? Advice? What’s the most? What did you learn from your mom when you talk about her with such pride? What did your mom and dad leave you? I can imagine.
[00:14:40] No, my mother had a saying that she repeated to me ad nauseam and I didn’t know how much. And if it was she said study and you will not be when grown up the vulgar toy of passions, nor the servile slave of the thrown.
[00:14:55] Today it is enough. You’re going to have to come back. You’re going to have to say it again because it’s very, very deep and very, very real.
[00:15:04] If that’s what I said, then study. And it will not be when grown up the vulgar plaything of passions, nor the servile slave of tyrants.
[00:15:15] Very poetic too.
[00:15:16] If you don’t leave, she read it to you, but she kept repeating it in the box. Eh? No, and the issue of education kills me. There was a lot of sacrifice in the house. But always with constancy, study, study, study and study, eh? And well, I saw people in my neighborhood, in my community, who were doing things that I wasn’t doing. No, I couldn’t do for. For my mom. And well, at that time it was a lot of frustration for mom. They can do it and they have another mom. Do you have your mom here? And my mom would tell me that my mom would tell me that the things she did I wouldn’t understand until I had kids. And indeed, now I understand many of the things that I did, since my mom and I, for example, the theme, what you were saying about Irma embarked, I was I’m mom’s only child. And now if I with an emitted one tells me dad, I’m going to go embarked to bring a boat. In other words, I would light candles at 500 so that it doesn’t go down, for example, to the ground. I start to think about what had to happen there to say hey, if he’s on board and I go, I’m going to hear from Tita every month or every two weeks,
[00:16:30] If another we did not have the technology we have now, with the facilities we have of feisty email or phone alser not very fed up, very brave and left me a great, great example to follow. I’m sure it shaped the person you are now. And well, many of your successes could also come from that stage of your life. Something else about some time when you said you told me that this experience that you told us about the boat was very important to get you on the path to logistics. But you have some other moment, some other memory of your of your life, which will indicate that logistics is going to be your passion and something important ports in particular.
[00:17:13] Good. La. La. At the university. At the nautical school where we were studying. In the. At that time, as I was explaining, we were pre. Panama Canal Transition. So the focus of 99 percent of the students at the nautical school was to be able to get experience to apply to do a pilot in the Panama Canal and pilot work in the Panama Canal. Here in Panama it has a very, very high level because of the pay and because there are 300 pilots in an air of 4 million people and the pilot earns very, very well. And the work in the Panama Canal at that time, 20 years ago was very well regarded, the pay was 3 and 4 times what you were paid here in Panama in general. Then I remember when a teacher went to ask who wanted to work in the canal, when they graduated, and everyone raised their hand except me, because I wanted to work in ports, because I had liked a class they had given earlier about ports. And well, thank God I stayed on that line and I was able to. I had the opportunity to work in Puerto Rico and I think I am right now. I’m living the dream I had 20 or 25 years ago of being able to work in.
[00:18:33] Well, congratulations on accomplishing that goal, that dream you once had in the talk before we were on the air. You also tell me that you like football, but I couldn’t ask you who your football team is?
[00:18:49] And I’m a sore loser hahahahahaha
[00:18:53] It happens to me with Atlanta Falcons like me. No, no,
[00:18:56] No, no, no, not good, but they were at the Super Bowl a little while ago and
[00:18:59] Seeing what happened.
[00:19:01] Yes Íbero, but we’re not going to talk about this topic because it’s the one that was on the other side, the one that’s going to be here this year, so I like it. And Las Vegas Raider old or Clean raido
[00:19:13] Raiders is a badass of a badass of a badass Raiders
[00:19:17] And I saw the game we have you we have the former owner. The Taba guy had his different idea of how to run the team, but Top Daigo. I lived will die. Colo Colo Ridder with the eye patch.
[00:19:34] Luckily the Raiders are lucky and now I’ll let demos talk a little bit more about your career path later on.
[00:19:43] Thank you, thank you. Well, I’m hot too, not so eternal, but I’m a virgin, so we have clothes that we do not see anything good,
[00:19:52] You have already won 20 times super
[00:19:55] Hahaha. But well, look, I met Juan Carlos E last about 18 years ago at the company I worked for. I had a business relationship with the terminal, with the body and uh, better. Because of this business relationship we decided to start inviting potential customers from regional distribution center and coming to Panama to know the logistics affect that we call the logistics platform. We were able to develop with Juan Carlos and the team at the Port of Manzanillo. This is this routine in which customers would go to the terminal to learn how a port terminal in this part of the world worked. Fortunately, and as a result of all the investments made by the company, the port of Manzanillo is the most modern port in Panama, eh? And Juan Carlos has a very commercial attitude. So we made these global customers see that in this small country, apart from the connectivity and apart from the channel, there were also eh, eh, eh, eh. Port terminals that are not only safe, but also technologically advanced. So that generated a confidence in the other generates because even today there is still a confidence of global customers to bring their product Panama and not only cross the channel, but also move it, because they accept retribution. So this relationship has been developing and obviously a good friendship has developed. We have a lot of things in common. Hey, he took, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Regular fans of learning through podcasts and audiobooks and digital mohs. We both live in Panama City, on the Pacific coast of Panama and we have to commute to the city of Colon every day or almost every day for our work. As a result, we spend a lot of time computing or commuting, so we have developed this learning strategy through today’s digital media. So I think today I’ll summarize the experience a little bit quickly and I’m not here. JuanCarlos, if you want to add anything else about the years we’ve known each other as friends and obviously we’ve worked a lot together as well.
[00:22:27] L And I think there’s a lot of complement to do the fashion part, the logistics part, what you talk about, you know, right? I’m here drawing containers and it’s the most boring part. But there has always been that big picture approach that Panama, the hub and the service platform. There was a person from the outside. Generally people on the outside have more of that perception. So I was telling you Panama is a distribution platform for people, money and cargo. But the people with the airport, the silver, with the banking center and the cargo with the. The guide is value added and logistical services and that is what Panama has always done and what we have to do. Now this comes with good things and bad things, so we have to make things as efficient as possible, trying to also have filters to make sure that the bad things we can catch as many times as possible. And well, like I said, we have this passion for wanting to learn and do things aside that took it well, well, well like that. P But that is a matter of nature.
[00:23:42] Hey, I’m talking a little bit about your career and well, especially your company now. Tell us a little more about it. I had this one here who is the president of the good Chipping Association and well, and if you can tell us a little more about your company in which you have been for several years, as you told us at the beginning, what do you do? Why do they recognize each other? So that people who are listening to us can really understand a little bit more about your company and also about the Caribbean Association, which sounds very interesting.
[00:24:16] In Panama until 1993 all ports in Panama were operated by the State and Panama in the early 90’s went through a very strong decentralization process among which was the granting of concessions to port operators to manage these ports or develop port facilities. The first concession that Panama granted to a U.S. operator called Amorín F y Marín e i f t a Marín began operating the Manzanillo terminal, which is called Manzaneda International Terminal. I them began operations at Manzanillo Cross Border which started in April 95. I started working with them in March 2004. I started in operations in the container yard and well, I mean, it’s very interesting the issue of technology, because of course, the work I did seventeen years ago was to handle a pick with a sheet of paper looking at the position of the containers and copying and typing them for error, go back to a terminal, to a computer and to Haiti and confirm the position and update it. Today that position does not exist and in the terminal because total inventory is carried in real time. When you move a container is this movement is updated in real time in the system, so eh. You know? It’s a matter of having to relearn things, of course, because if I had stayed with that, I’m ready for the photo.
[00:25:58] That is on the one hand and the other the issue of advancement. Because what you are looking for. I was driving around watching the dumpsters where they were and wrote you can imagine the danger eh proportional in the pattern? So the goal is to get these people out of the operations and put them in a safer place using technology. So I am an example that yes there is the, the and the framework where the person can be trained and the person has the wood to train you. Technology is not a threat, but an opportunity. But Perotti has to have the framework in place so that the person can be retrained and not just taken out of the system to bring in someone else. So well, I started there and then I was given the opportunity to work in the commercial part and now I’m managing the commercial part and the corporate affairs part, the corporate social responsibility part in which the company and also the company, has a very strong social theme, not only in support of the community, but also in participation in society, in public policies. So, for example, I represent, I represented the company, Manzanillo International Terminal, at the Panama Maritime Chamber. I was president of the Panama Maritime Chamber, eh? And now I’m representing the company. Well, I’m a couple of years old.
[00:27:25] In the Carbon Shipping Association and I have the presidency since 2018, my presidency to be determined now in October 2021, there are some some some advantages like being able to go to the Caribbean twice a year. Of course it brings, people have a hard time because I tell them Ay Enrique, you know I have to go to work in Santa Lucia or Guadeloupe, or Jamaica, or Punta Cana. Then people say no, no, no, no, no, you go on vacation, you do not echanove you noventera, but if the in the Caribbean still very much. Business is done at the bar and you still see quarter million dollar deals being closed on a napkin sheet. For example, you sign here and sign here and we’ve already sold two forklifts worth a quarter of a million dollars and that’s it. Well, let’s go ahead. There is still that joviality and that atmosphere where you can do business with a handshake. But Jet also still feels the theme that technology is coming, that technology is coming in platforms, that multinationals are coming. So we are in a very interesting transition in the region, seeing how these two worlds do not clash, but can consolidate or complement each other. The issue of familiarity with the subject of MA, more formality and technology.
[00:28:51] Which I think is something that we all see and experience in Latin America in general. I don’t think that what you describe is something that is happening in our region very often. What is the purpose? What is the aim of the association? What is it? What does this association of the Good seek? Shipping Association?
[00:29:09] The main overall objective is to promote a sustainable and efficient maritime sector in the region. As you can imagine, the Caribbean is much more dependent on the maritime transport sector than other regions, because they are islands. So it is very important for the economies of the countries that the maritime sector is efficient and responsible. Then you have the Caribbean, where one out of every three cruise passengers worldwide goes there. It is the largest cruise destination, but its participation has been declining year by year. Fifteen years ago it was one in two cruisers going to the Caribbean, now one in three. There is a lot of competition, so there has to be a lot of care for the environment, because what is sold is beach, eh, experience and destination. But now you also have a cruiser who thinks a lot more and I know what for. I want to go to the beach, I want to live the experience. So now, for example, a cruiser who goes on a boat, gets off on an island and doesn’t go directly to the beach, but he wants to go and cook with the family on the island. Then there are packages where the cruisers are brought to a family’s home to cook and live the authentic experience of El Destino. So we’re on that one. On that issue. But there is also the issue of charging. And how is that balance between the maritime cargo sector? How do you coexist with this maritime passenger cruise sector? This passenger sector also brings a lot of demand because food, provisions, groceries and equipment for the boat have to be brought on board. So there is what we look for in the situation to answer. Your question is that these two worlds coexist in a sustainable and efficient way,
[00:31:16] Excellent and good. At the end of our interview we will put all the links for all the associations and your contact and everything. But if the people who are listening to us just now would like to know a little more about the good Shipping Association, where should they go? What is it? What is a good way to learn more about the good?
[00:31:35] Shipping Association If we are on the website Care Bien Chipping Punto or RG is the website and we are also on LinkedIn Carinen Chipping Association. So there you can learn a little bit more about what we’re trying to do. As all associations worldwide, going through a lot of work these last few years because of the issue of dwindling revenues how to deliver value to the member in this virtual and digital age and reinventing a lot of the fabela, we made one. The annual general meeting was held in November last year and the complaint from all the members was hey you and we wanted to talk more. We wanted to see it later, but we were looking for one. Annual general meeting platform, which will be well documented and these platforms try to restrict people’s participation. This was a theme, but people want that warmth, they want it. He says he could go to the bar and have a drink and talk to people and he knows how business is. She misses him terribly. He misses very, very, very much. And we’re looking at how we keep the generation relevant to those people who need that Caribbean warmth.
[00:32:55] No, I think everyone needs and it’s important to have that kind of human relationship, that personal touch. When you’re trying to talk about business or trying to talk about anything else, then hopefully soon, soon we’ll get, we’ll get this done. I think we should. You had a couple of questions about that.
[00:33:15] If not more than questions. Enrique I wanted to take advantage of the experience of Juan Carlos, not in the association, but in his work, because the company for which he works port terminals in Colombia, in Mexico, as he mentioned in Chile, even in Asia. I would like to ask Carlos what he thinks are the biggest differences in port operations in these countries, being the case that Colombia your terminal is in the Caribbean and obviously in Chile, in the Pacific. Well, they tell us a little bit about the difference of working in the same industry, but in these countries that are so different culturally speaking. I think it was already a lot of audience value in Latin America.
[00:34:05] Look, that question is very interesting because the international port operator, like any multinational, seeks to standardize processes. But you want it to be like a MacDonalds, you want the burger to come out the same. If you buy it in the United States and you buy it in Brazil, if you buy it in Panama or if you buy it in Jenin. But if there is, there is no doubt that the operation has a very symbiotic relationship with the community. So, port communities are generally communities that are of lower economic status than the rest of the population. One and two are a major provider of employment in that community. So the dependence of the community with the port operator and gatekeeper operator with the terminal make that dynamic super important. There are countries in the region, for example, that are more inclined towards workers, that we have to take care of them. So there the union, for example, is much stronger and there is more demand. So the issue of the pandemic has also made it visible. That is the port terminal, because that’s where the personal protective equipment enters the food or exports out of South America, for example, the west coast, Peru, Chile and Ecuador have benefited greatly from the appetite in the United States, Europe for natural food and healthy food and bananas, bananas and blueberries and capers.
[00:35:55] All these perishable products have been in high demand. During this time these countries have seen demand soar. Follow the. But it is also in the context that the worker in general and the dock worker in particular is afraid to go out to work because of the pandemic. So the employer, the port operator, has had to make a lot of effort to give the worker peace of mind as far as possible to come to work, because it is necessary for the country, but also there you can come to work because we are taking care of your health. So, uh, hey, hey. There is a very important balance in the measures you have found in the doctor. The disparity of measurement in our countries, in the region, and that is a reflection of the, the thinking of the governments in relation to the pandemic, to the health and economic security of the country. So if the context in which they operate is super important for these ports, because they are, they are, they are, they are very much in the economy, not only the country, but more importantly the port community, in which they are.
[00:37:12] Very reference and and infallible. But we are you who have operations also in Vietnam, let’s say, or you had clear as it is the is the same at the level of the relationship with the community is the same and obviously culturally they are like very different, but what are the similarities and the major differences.
[00:37:33] When in Vietnam I have to remember that there’s a much more centralized, a much more centralized, communist government and for example there the all the private companies have to be in partnership with the government, call it ministry or authority or whatever, they have to be a partner. So the relationship with the community is through that government agent. And there’s a lot less because you know? The government wants to control the message the community receives and I imagine the government wants the community to perceive that there is another benefactor beyond the government. So all the communication is done through these government entities and you depend a lot on them to keep working. Vietnam, for example, has been one of the great beneficiaries of the pandemic issue. Have they controlled it? I think there’s been a death in Cubby’s Vietnam. And now it’s good. Now they are struggling with a wave of issue, but they are having 500 e positive per day in Panama so they have a day. We are 2500 positive per day. And on top of that, people try to diversify their chain. Coming out of China, Vietnam has been the main recipient of production, so Vietnam has done very, very well. So much so that the year now early this year, began to work a terminal that began construction ten years ago and had stopped because there was no demand and right there. Well, last year they restarted work to start up operations and they started operations two or three weeks ago because of the level of volume that Vietnam is preparing to export.
[00:39:28] Yes the congestion now in globally and in Asia is impressive. But if Vietnam has been one of the ports, this is a good one. Hoch Mixer and several of its ports have been the most. Benefited in terms of traffic and increased traffic. From the transports there. Juan Carlos On this, comparing all these different countries and all these different types of terminals and operations and well, in your job allows you to have access to all this information and make comparisons in your in your opinion. Taking into account the competition and your experience and obviously your company. What three characteristics are necessary to make a successful port operator? What would it be if you had to sum it up in three very clear characteristics for the people who are listening? In your opinion, what makes a port operator like you and your company successful?
[00:40:32] The first is to understand the environment in which you work, because the one as they call it on television, every time you have the canned commercials, the commercials that you see there. But now more and more age that the announcer is the one who speaks the commercial because he wants to. He wants to modulate the message. So the operator has to modulate this message knowing that it comes with a canned operation, but you have to modulate the soul. In our case we would say that you want to tropicalize the message and you can’t bring an operation 100 percent for the Caribbean than for Europe. For example, in the case of us we bring a crane and Enrique who are a robot talÃn. Cranes make 98 percent of the dispatches. Automatically then the crane, when a carrier comes to pick up a container, the transport comes. Enrique Álvarez of looking for the container, etc. When you pass a reader the cranes in the yard detect that you are entering. They tell Tuina to look for the container and communicate with our operating system to ask it where the container is. Then the machine that is closest automatically selects that is the work order, it is placed on the spot. Search for the container. Move the containers you have to move. It takes the container out and when you place yourself down, it detects that you are down and puts the container in. That’s it. No person.
[00:42:10] That is in Panama or in all its terminals.
[00:42:13] This is in Panama, this is in Panama. The operator I worked with in Panama, we were the first in Latin America to implement. Now there are other terminals that already have this technology. But my point is that in order to achieve this we had to tropically fix the processes a lot, because this was coming from Europe, for example. And you depended on the transport having its equipment in good condition. And unfortunately in our countries this is not generally the case. Or you need the carrier to be in position 100 percent of the time and you know it’s not 100 percent of the time. So you have to be much more flexible in formulating the processes in order to be successful, because without you you don’t have that flexibility that I wish didn’t have to exist. You’re going to live with a heart attack every day that you’re going to eat and disruptions and exceptions every day. That’s the first, to be able to understand the context in which I work, but the second is to have discipline. You have to have that consistency that I want to accomplish this and we’re going to have 75,000 reasons why not to do it. But if you know that this is the right thing to do to bring more benefits to the operation, that it will bring benefits to the carrier, the shipping line, the users, you have to do it. In other words. Discipline is extremely important. And the third, I would say have a little bit of humility because you know? The reality is that we move 90 percent of everything that arrives to the countries and at the moment we can say well, if we don’t work hard, we go and stop the whole country. But you have to have a little bit of humility to say well, I’m part of a gear and I have to keep working and I have to keep shaping the system so that we can all move forward. So I would say these are the three.
[00:44:09] Gazel with excellent message and well, I think you can extrapolate it to much more than just logistics. I say by reading them now you realize your context and environment. Discipline and humility. It could almost, almost be the recipe for any business and even anyone’s personal life as well. It is not, let’s be redundant, with some of. We see the reaction to this.
[00:44:40] If not definitely that Carlos has hit on some very specific points and at the end he mentioned a little bit what the disruptions are. Does our business live by instructions or is it basically our daily life? These changes that occur and the acceleration of changes and make them mentioned Fin without saying it directly. This technological evolution, this growth that we as professionals have to have as we are constantly learning what we know, right? And I think a lot of what he has conveyed today is based on just that. And I think Enrique, that the purpose of this program is just to alert in some way or share with or with the audience that imperative need we all have to grow day by day, to learn. I didn’t like the points Juan Carlos made today very much. I think they add tremendous value to all of us, how this industry has changed so much, huh? It changes a lot and will continue to change a lot in the days to come.
[00:45:59] No, of course, no, I totally agree. And definitely a very interesting talk with a very successful person both professionally and personally. Juan Carlos it has been a pleasure to meet you. Thank you very much. I think your message is a message of unity for all the regions of Latin America. It’s a pretty broad message for anyone who is listening to us to apply. And again, thank you very much for taking a couple of minutes to talk with us. Before we go and say goodbye I wanted to ask you where they can get you? Where? Where the people who are listening to us. If you want to know a little more, either from your company right now from the Manzanillo International Terminal or from the CAR Bien Shipping Association, where you can get Juan Carlos Colostomía.
[00:46:55] Youtube, LinkedIn e Juan Carlos, Croton, Twitter, the andele JC, rayita below Croton and there well, there you can read a little bit. Last year, well, reading online whatever. Demo. I had to do other things as well. I collaborated in a book about digitalization in the maritime sector. Her name is Mary Candid, Tito Hammerstein and we also started writing. I have written about maritime digitization because truth Enrique, that’s a topic, eh? Para goes to the Caribbean. First we were talking about how people were going to be taken out. People, the shipping agent is a broker and said well, that there is a platform on which services are offered, the guy is out, the cafe. The point now is not to tell him you’re getting out, is it? How do you ride that wave so the wave won’t carry you away. And we’re trying to teach him that we should reverse the issue and for that I think almost everyone. And how do we talk about this? This applies to almost all entrepreneurs in our region. You know what you have to do this? They know they have to invest in digital. The issue is one, how do they do it too that they have to do? It’s like NASA or how do I get my teeth into this and how do I pay for that I think with the two super big sweeps that we find ourselves in right now that we’re trying to educate people on how to do it. Because well, the book and the writings go in line to try to explain to people how to do this and through the associations like the Crain Chipping Association, Auteuil, a pool so that the common front of them can go to seek funding in a more accessible way for them and be able to bring them the Noja or in two or three options that is not like when you go to the supermarket and you find in the aisle 150 cereals and you do not know which one to choose. Make two or three to suit you and they can.
[00:49:03] Isn’t it great? And well, this is a very, very broad topic of conversation that you just opened up. The digitization of agents. How are they going to be changing in Latin America, in the Caribbean? This is probably enough for another interview. Or maybe a panel. We’d love to maybe put something like this together to discuss a little more of what you’re talking about. Again, thank you very much. Let us give many thanks for accompanying us as well. Nice to have you and good for all who are listening. Thank you so much for being part of these conversations on your Chain Now in Spanish. Please, if you liked the talk, if you are interested in logistics, don’t forget to subscribe to Supply Chain OWW! You can also look for us on the Supply Chain or Dotcom website and you can also find us on LinkedIn at Supply Chain Now. Please subscribe it’s free and you should not miss this kind of episodes and interviews as interesting as the one we had today with Juan Carlos Toston Juan Carlos. A last word to say goodbye to the program. Anything you would like to tell our audience to improve in 2021? Any challenges you would like to propose to all the colleagues and supply chain people listening to us?
[00:50:28] Well, I’ll tell you what I’m working on, huh? He thinks that we dedicate a lot of time to professional growth and on the personal side we are going to work on it by learning. What are we going to do then, eh? I’m putting in a little bit of time. Oh, also how to be a better dad and how to be a better husband. And I think it’s a lot about patience, eh? I have four children, three boys want patience is a commodity of high scarcity. The real everything
[00:51:02] Righteousness.
[00:51:03] Yes, absolutely. More in times of pandemic, having everyone in the house.
[00:51:08] Chili peppers and good, eh. My wife is a saint and I try to remember every time there is a problem in the house, that I am a teacher to my children and that every time something happens that I don’t like, in a moment maybe not to punish or scold but in a moment to teach. So my priority for this 2021 is to work on my patience so I can teach instead of scolding or punishing. There in the house. Look, I don’t know if the other person wants to work on this, but it seems to me that something I could grow into much better.
[00:51:50] Well, you’ve got it. This excellent message and excellent new year’s resolution. I believe that for all the next few years of our lives. Patience, patience this one and become a good teacher of your children so that the world will continue to improve. Juan Carlos Thank you very much again, thank you very much. See you next time.
