The area in the Pacific entrance to the Canal could be leased by the State for the construction and operation of logistics infrastructure such as warehouses, cold storage facilities, ship repairs and a port for vehicles.
The 1,200 hectares owned by the State and "discovered" after cleaning and dredging of the areas surrounding the Canal expansion are part of a development plan that the Ministry of Affairs of the Canal is preparing to start when the new locks come into operation. The initial proposal is to lease the land to private companies so that they can develop the area, providing logistics services, transportation and communications to related industries.
A bill has been presented that would grant the company obtaining the concession to build and operate the container port in Corozal Oeste the same tax benefits as other port operators in Panama.
From a statement issued by the National Assembly of Panama:
A bill establishing similar tax exemptions as those in other ports will be offered by the Panama Canal Authority to the company granted the concession for the design, construction, development and operation of the port complex in Corozal Oeste, was presented to the full the National Assembly by the Minister for Canal Affairs, Roberto Roy.
For the second consecutive year contributions from the Canal to the Panamanian State exceeded one billion dollars, totaling $7.61 billion in the 13 years of local administration.
Canal earnings projections for fiscal 2012 were about $951 million, and the end result exceeded those expectations, reaching $1.03 billion.
Laestrella.com.pa reports that "Contributions from the Panama Canal to state coffers in 2012 again exceeded the barrier of 1 billion dollars, but remained slightly below the record amount a year earlier. Operations on the waterway brought in, during this newly completed fiscal year, which ran from October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012, $1.03 billion, reported the Panama Canal Authority on Tuesday. "
An engineer with 36 years experience on the waterway, today became the new administrator of the Panama Canal.
A statement from the ACP reads:
Panama City, September 4, 2012. - Jorge Luis Quijano, an engineer with 36 years experience on the waterway, during which he has been entrusted with key responsibilities such as the operation and maintenance of the Canal in the transition to Panamanian administration and the Expansion Program, today became the new administrator of the Panama Canal.
Before the end of 2012 authorities will put out to tender the building that will house the Operations Center, from where the subway will be controlled.
An article in Pa-digital.com reports that "The engineer Roberto Roy, secretary of Metro, said that these structures will be located in the area known as "patios y talleres" located in Albrook. This is the place where trains will go from 12:00 pm until 4:30 am to be cleaned and maintained overnight.
Local companies will vie for the construction of train yards and workshops, to be put out to tender during 2012.
The main contract for construction of the Panama City Metro international tender was awarded to the consortium Línea Uno, made up of Brazil's Odebrecht and the FCC, a contract worth $1.452 billion.
An article in Prensa.com provides an update on relevant aspects of the work and progress of the construction.