Because Colombian ports have a lower operating cost base than Panamanians, the South American country competes to appropriate the logistics business in the region.
Until a while ago, Panama led the logistics operations in the region, however, there are some signs that indicate that this situation could be changing, since the growth in the movement of maritime cargo in the country has reported a slowdown in recent years.
From 26 to 30 August, representatives of the port industry of Central America and the Dominican Republic will meet in Antigua Guatemala to discuss innovation, trends and facilitation of international trade.
From the National Port Commission of Guatemala' s press release:
Guatemala has become the venue for one of the most important port events in Central America: the 41st Port Meeting of the Central American Isthmus, better known by its acronym REPICA.
In the first nine months of 2018, eight environmental impact studies were presented to perform dredging works and new constructions in different port terminals in the region, with a $75 million estimated investment.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
A $130 million loan is being negotiated with the BCIE to begin, at the end of the year, improvement works at the port of Corinto.
Representatives from the National Port Company (EPN) explained to Elnuevodiario.com.ni that in addition to the terminal's modernization plan, which would "... double the arrival of cargo ships ... an investment of approximately $70 million will be made in modernizing the port, only in what corresponds to equipment, and that the project will take about two years."
Lack of electricity and logistics and storage problems at Floridian ports are complicating exports from Central America, especially for perishable goods.
Difficulties faced at ports in Florida and Puerto Rico are affecting the region's exporters, who are looking for alternatives so that their shipments are not affected.
The 70% growth in cargo movement through the port of Corinto in the last five years reflects the imperative need for Nicaragua to invest more in port infrastructure.
Even though container movements through Nicaraguan ports are still significantly less than that through other ports in the region, the increase in sea freight traffic and its growth potential compel the government and the sectors involved to think about options for increasing port capacity.
The company Mitsui may have told the Ortega administration that it is interested in participating in port infrastructure works in the country.
Representatives from the Japanese multinational firm Mitsui met in Managua yesterday with delegates from the state-run Investment Promotion Agency of Nicaragua (ProNicaragua) to discuss the possibility of investing in this country, an official source reported.
Companies from Mexico, Colombia and France have shown interest in operating the Nicaraguan port terminal through means of a private concession.
The possibility of granting in concession the operation and maintenance of the port is something Nicaraguan entrepreneurs have been suggesting to the government for some time, since they believe that using this method, improvements could be made in the efficiency of the terminal's operations.
From July 25 to 28 representatives from the port industry in the region will be meeting in Belize at the XXXIX Port Meeting of the Central American Isthmus.
At the event, to be held at the Best Westerm Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize, the main discussion panels will address current issues such as the Cruise Industry, Mobility and Logistics Policy in Central America, Strengthening Environmental Port Management in Central America, Multilateral Agreement And Safety, Port Security and Protection, Gross Verified Mass (GVM), Climate Change and the Role of Women in the Port Industry, among others.
The Nicaraguan private sector has proposed that the operation of the port be awarded in concession or a public-private scheme used in order to improve the efficiency and management of the port terminal.
Representatives of the Higher Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep) analyzed the scheme under which the Honduran port terminal in Cortes operates, which was granted in concession to the Central American Port Operator (OPC), to evaluate if it would be feasible to replicate the model in Port Maroon.
From March 12 to 15 shipping companies, logistics companies and others from this industry will be meeting in Panama to discuss issues such as the use of new energy sources and technology on ships.
The Panama Maritime Chamber has announced the holding of the XIII Panama MaritimeConference& Exhibition from March 12 to 15 at the Megapolis Convention Center in Panama City.
The operator of Puerto Caldera in Costa Rica, has hired a French-Colombian consortium for the construction of a multipurpose port in the Gulf of Uraba, adjacent to the border with Panama, with an investment of $580 million.
PIO SAS, a holding company dedicated among other sectors to the development, implementation and management of services for port infrastructure and logistics, has announced that the consortium Sapeim from France and Termotecnica Coindustrial S.A. from Colombia, is the preferred contractor for the stage of Engineering, Procurement, and construction (EPC) of Puerto Antioquia, which will be the closest Colombian port to the Panama canal and the closest to Medellin and Bogota.
The private sector proposal includes building a new port in the Caribbean and improving existing ones, reviewing electricity tariffs, and creating a special tourist area in San Juan del Sur and Tola.
The private union has submitted a proposal for development in 2020 that focuses on five areas: financing; infrastructure and services; public management and facilitation; education system and human capital; and innovation in business management.
A value of more than $5 billion has been given to the investment projects that the Ortega administration intends to carry out through public, private and investment partnership deals.
Among the projects proposed by the Nicaraguan government and open to funding proposals are:
Problems related to lack of infrastructure such as roads, ports and airports could be solved if the bill on public-private partnerships being prepared by the government and the private sector is successful.
The Draft Law on Public Private Partnerships to be presented in the coming days by President Ortega was prepared in conjunction with private sector representatives, explained the president's economic adviser, Bayardo Arce.