In a 30-hectare lot located five kilometers from the Container Terminal in Moin, Costa Rica, construction will begin in the first half of 2021, a logistics complex that will focus on the management of local or imported cargo.
The project, called "Plataforma Logística Caribe" (PLACA), will be placed near Route 32, the road section from Limón to San José.
The Walmart supermarket chain plans to expand and remodel its distribution center located in the municipality of Villa Nueva, department of Guatemala.
According to the interactive platform "Construction in Central America" of the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, Operadora de Tiendas S.A., submitted to the Ministry of Environment the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to develop the project called, "Distribution Center of Guatemala."
In the municipality of Villa Nueva, Nestlé began the construction of a new distribution center of 12 thousand square meters.
The construction of the new industrial park, which will have logistics services for import and export of finished products, storage, distribution of products to supermarket chains, wholesalers and retail, will be completed in August 2020.
Investment in more sophisticated equipment, preparing human capital for knowledge generation and coordinated decision making between government and business, are some of the areas that Panama has to work on in order to continue competing globally.
The country depends largely on the economic activities of the logistics sector, as it contributes about 33% of the Gross Domestic Product.
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.
Investing in infrastructure that improves the connection between its main ports is one of the most determining factors for Panama to recover the competitiveness that is beginning to lose regionally and globally.
The Panama Maritime Chamber (CMP) presented its strategy "Maritime Vision Country 2019-2024", in which it analyzes that although the Canal was expanded and remains competitive at the port level in the region, the country needs to improve in terms of institutionality, human resources, infrastructure, processes and technology, to continue giving tools to the logistics sector to continue its development.
The Peruvian group Ransa built in the municipality of Amatitlán, Guatemala, a logistics center dedicated to the distribution of perishable products.
Company representatives detailed that the new industrial complex, which is located at kilometer 29.5 of the road to the Pacific, has a frozen and refrigerated area of 1,500 m2, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
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.
A logistics center for humanitarian assistance is to be built in a 6-hectare area south-west of the Panama Pacifico airport, which will include three 12,000 m2 warehouses and administrative buildings.
This Logistic Center will be located southwest of the Panama Pacifico International Airport within the special area of the same name, in an area of 6.1 hectares and the complex will house:
From October 18 to 20, logistics and foreign trade companies will be gathering together in Panama City to take part in conferences on issues related to the sector.
The event, which will take place at the ATLAPA Convention Center, will involve companies and consultants in logistics and foreign trade. Expo Logística Panama will be held in an exhibition area with 5,360m² of space, where about 150 local and foreign companies will be taking part in more than 250 modules with products and services geared towards the area of logistics and multimodal transport.
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. "
Integration of Latin American customs offices and challenges for the port sector up to 2040 are some of the topics to be discussed at the tenth edition of the logistics event in Panama.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP):
For the tenth consecutive year, the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture in Panama (CCIAP) in conjunction with the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT), will be holding EXPO LOGISTICS Panama 2016 from October 19 to 21, with one of the main objectives of the event being to strengthen the sector and provide up to date information for professionals in the logistics and multimodal transport sector.
On October 18 in San Salvador, logistics companies will be gathering together to discuss issues related to new models of distribution and logistics.
Among the topics to be discussed at the event organized by GS1 are Collaborative Logistics, technology as an enabler of value networks, Visibility in value networks, the challenges of the digital world, innovation, mobile technologies and networking, sustainability and Triple Baseline (Money - People - Planet), among other things.
In order to take advantage of the connectivity offered by the Canal and its strategic location, the rules for logistics and port industries must be improved and modernized.
The infrastructure and technology is in place, but a better legal framework is needed in order to take advantage of the connectivity and advantages of the Canal and the location of Panama in the Latin American region.
The maritime union has requested a reconsideration of the transshipment tariffs governing food from the 1st of April, as it represents 48% more on operating costs.
From a statement issued by the Maritime Chamber of Panama:
Panama, April 1, 2016. - The Maritime Chamber of Panama and unionized shipping lines in the CMP has called for a reconsideration on the part of the Panamanian Authority for Food Safety (AUPSA) over what they consider an unfortunate measure made by this entity.