The tariff will go down from 62% to 35%, as a temporary increase established by the Solis administration in 2015 was revoked.
Nacion.com reports that "...Through a precautionary measure, the Court of Appeals for Administrative and Civil Matters of the Treasury suspended the rice safeguard measure that was established in February 2015, which means that rice can now be imported without incurring the additional taxes that had been established for this grain."
Spanish company Mercsa will study, design and provide technical assistance for the construction for 8 public marketplaces.
An important component of the Cold Chain Project, these marketplaces will be located in David, Colón, Santiago, Penonomé, Chitré, Las Tablas, Panamá and Chorrera.
Jimmy Papadimitriu, minister of the presidency, noted that “the evaluation committee decided to award this contract to Mercasa, as it presented the best technical proposal and has vast experience in these matters”.
Just two companies, Mercasa and CAU AH Domar, submitted bids for designing eight public marketplaces.
These marketplaces are part of a larger Cold Chain project, sponsored by President Martinelli’s administration.
“They will be located in Panamá, La Chorrera (Panamá Oeste), David (Chiriquí), Veraguas, Las Tablas (Los Santos), Chitré (Herrera), Penonomé (Coclé) and Colón”, reported Prensa.com.