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.
When companies from different countries come together to develop large-scale projects, the work will inevitably be affected by conflicts generated by cultural differences.
In today's world it is not strange that the punctuality of the English or the precision of the Swiss is a surprise to a Latin American.
These cultural differences are also reflected in the working methods of companies who join up in order to develop projects where often a lack of agreement or communication problems delay the progress of projects .
"The Canal Authority did not leave any loose ends, it was a very rigid system in which everything was recorded."
"Impartial, transparent and confidential" is the description of the bidding process by the former Canal Administrator Alberto Alemán Zubieta, who started the Canal expansion project in 2007.
"From the moment when the Canal authority decided to start a project for the design and construction of the third set of locks, which is the biggest part of the program, prequalification of companies started.
The trade agreements signed by Panama with several nations could serve as a platform for new business for the CFZ.
The CFZ wants make a u turn in the way it does business but to do so it must make adjustments so that it not only receives goods but also gives them an added value.
This was explained Luis Germán Gómez, president of the Association of Users of the Colon Free Zone.
To remain globally competitive, the industry must invest in staff training and specialization.
The forum "Invest in Panama" brought together multinationals, politicians, local entrepreneurs and executives from companies interested in coming to Panama or strengthening their presence in the country. Those present agreed on the need for good progress in local infrastructure, but insisted on the urgent need to invest in staff training and specialization.
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.
With 4 lanes, and measuring 4.6 kilometers long and 75 meters high, the bridge will cost about $280 million and its construction will take 32 months.
The tender for the third bridge, located on the Atlantic side, will take place in August, according to the outgoing administrator of the Panama Canal, Alberto Alemán Zubieta.
The senior administrator "explained that once the evaluation of the companies participating in the prequalification process is complete and the tender conditions for the design and specifications of the work have been delivered, the tender will be put out", reported Panamaamerica.com.pa.
Alberto Alemán Zubieta will present "Road to the Panama Canal Expansion" and Lee McIntire, of CH2M HILL, will examine the role of engineers in solving problems.
A statement from the Panama Canal Authority reads:
For the first time experts will present talks on megaprojects in Panama
Panama City, March 22nd, 2012. -
The presidents of two of the largest construction and project management companies in the world, the director of civil works from the U.S. Army Engineers Corps and the administrator of the Panama Canal, will be keynote speakers at the "International Congress on Engineering and Panama Canal Infrastructure 2012. "
Work began seven months later than stipulated due to the quality of the cement which was originally intended to be used, but the contracted company tries to meet the deadline of October 2014.
The administrator of the Panama Canal Alberto Alemán Zubieta, admitted that the work of expanding the waterway should have begun in January 2011 but didn’t start until July last year due to problems with the standard of the cement brought by the contractee the first time.
The Panama Canal Authority has appointed Jorge Luis Quijano as administrator of the agency, replacing Alemán Alberto Zubieta.
Alemán Zubieta will retire from the position on September 3, 2012.
A press release from the ACP reads:
The Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP in Spanish) designated in special session on March 8th, 2012 the engineer Jorge Luis Quijano as the new administrator of the Panama Canal to replace the engineer Alemán Alberto Zubieta, who after 16 years of service to the Canal ends his term on 3rd September 2012. "We are proud to announce the appointment of the engineer Jorge L. Quijano as the new administrator of the Canal. The Board, exercising its legal authority and based on its independent function believes that Quijano has the capability and experience necessary to manage the waterway in a critical juncture in its history," said Romulo Roux, Chairman of the Board.
The Panama Maritime Chamber has published the characteristics of the person who will replace Alemán Zubieta at the head of the Canal’s administration.
"A professional versed in the field of maritime transport with extensive experience in large scale engineering and project management." "Possessing a broad view of the impact of the canal as the main axis of movement of cargo and auxiliary services to the ships."
At the First Central American Forum on Energy and Infrastructure Project Finance, participants highlighted the number of ventures taking place in Central America in these sectors.
The Panama Canal expansion is just one example that stands out of the many investment projects in energy and infrastructure, both public and private, going on in Central America, in contrast to the sluggishness in Europe, according to participants in the industry forum held in Panama.
The third terminal port on the Pacific is to be built in an area of 112 hectares. Companies such as APL from Singapore, Cosco from China and Evergreen from Taiwan have been invited to participate.
The new terminal on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal will compete with the ports of Balboa and the port of Singapore.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has granted 70 acres for construction of the mega-port and in return the state will provide another area where the operations currently performed there will be moved to, said the ACP Administrator Alberto Alemán Zubieta.
The Panama Canal Administrator Alberto Zubieta German, has announced that the First World Congress on Engineering and Infrastructure will take place in Panama from 18 to 20 April 2012.
The event will be attended by experts from 10 countries who will speak on international trends in the sector.
German Alberto Zubieta, administrator of the Panama Canal said ‘Panama has much to offer in this field to the world, especially because the Congress will be held at a time when the redevelopment of the Canal with the construction the third set of locks will be at its height.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP in Spanish) for 2012 expects revenues of $2.367 million and contributions to the government to be $950 million.
Projected revenues are: $1.828 million in tolls (77% of total), $429 million in services related to the transit of vessels (18%), $84 million in electricity sales (4%) and $26 million in sales of water (1% ).
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