IOM Director General Brunson McKinley and Panama's Vice President
Samuel Lewis Navarro inaugurated on 7 September the IOM
Administrative Center for the Western Hemisphere.

The Panama Administrative Center (PAC), headed by Alberto
Brenes, will provide administrative services and support to all IOM
offices in the Western Hemisphere in human resources, accounting,
computer services, auditing and translations, amongst others.

The PAC is the second IOM Administrative Center; the first
opened in Manila, Philippines in 2003.

The establishment of the PAC in Panama followed recommendations
made in a 2005 analysis on the need for administrative support for
IOM missions in the region, as well as from a review of convenient
geographical locations for the new Center. The analysis concluded
that IOM missions in the Western Hemisphere, as well and the
Organization at a global level would benefit from an additional
administrative Center to supplement the work being carried out in
Manila.

Panama was selected as the most appropriate location because of
security, infrastructure, availability of human resources,
education and language, and was accepted by IOM Member States.

At today's inauguration ceremony Brunson McKinley said, "The
establishment of the PAC is not merely a physical act, but rather a
deepening of the change in mentality and attitude of service of IOM
to address the Organization's demands and administrative priorities
in the region and globally to enable more rational management of
IOM resources."

The Panamanian Government welcomed the IOM Administrative Center
and provided financing for the rehabilitation of the site, located
in the Ciudad del Saber (City of Knowledge), an area used by
international bodies and academic institutions.

The Government of Panama has also accorded IOM and the PAC with
privileges and immunities as an international organization.

Media Contact:

Niurka Pineiro

IOM Washington

Tel: +1.202.8621826 Ext. 225

E-mail "mailto:npineiro@iom.int">npineiro@iom.int