The company responsible for building the logistics zone, that will operate under the free zone regime at Tocumen airport, expects to start in November.
The Mota-Engil Consortium, winner of the tender, has planned to begin in early November the work of land leveling, construction of access roads and installation of public services, for the development of about 20 logistics warehouses.
Following the halting of the bidding process to build Phase I of the Free Zone in May, the General Directorate of Public Procurement has decided to lift the suspension.
On May 18, a claim filed by Transeq-Estrella was published, arguing that in the bidding process there were "distinct inconsistencies, omissions and procedural flaws that must be reviewed."
The Nestlé company invested $20 million in Panama in its new distribution center and $75 million in a purchasing hub.
According to representatives from Nestlé, the new distribution center is located in Parque Sur and the investment allowed them to increase their logistics capacity by 40%, and the shopping hub is located in Costa del Este. From there a group of buyers will acquire different categories of Nestlé products for all countries.
With a "roadmap" proposed for the next four years, the sector aims to improve conditions in the country as a logistics hub and compete better with other Latin American ports.
With the help of the CAF Development Bank, the sector of Panamanian logistics companies aims to develop a plan to improve the supply of services in the country and compete better with other logistics development poles that have improved their position in Latin America.One example is Colombia and its Cartagena and Buenaventura port terminals, explained Susana Pinilla, from the CAF.""... The boats when docked in those ports do transshipment, which has access to value-added processes; or they serve the need for supplies.There is a robust supply of bunker, among other conditions referenced in catalogs on global logistics services. "
The government has announced a committee formed of entrepreneurs who will design a national logistics strategy, focusing on redirecting the Colon Free Zone, integral panning for ports and the technological inter-oceanic corridor area.
The purpose of this Committee consisting of 7 members of the private sector, is to define together the plans, programs and goals of a Master Plan which aims to develop the sector as a whole.
A liquefied gas terminal, a farm of bunker tanks, pipelines and power generation projects are part of the ACP plans to begin this year.
In total nine projects have been identified which provide added value to the operation of the Panama Canal, including construction of the port of Corozal, a port for light vehicles and a logistics park. It is anticipated that these works will start during 2016.