Project opportunity

Investment Opportunities

Some of the multi-million dollar investment opportunities include:

• The development of major intermodal transportation and logistics centers at Colon and at the Howard/Farfan complex on the Pacific, including the construction of a new container port at Farfan.

• Ship owners services, servicing of vessels, ship repair and maintenance, container repair, intermodal cargo services.

• The future construction of the third set of locks, which will include the necessity for additional water resources, expanded hydroelectric power generation, the expansion of the entrances to the Canal and the deepening of Gatun Lake and Culebra Cut.

• Contracts related to the Panama Canal operation (provisions, equipment, material, construction, consulting etc.) that reached $135 million in 2001, not including purchases of $22 million.

• Provision of concessionary services to the ports (power, water, fuel, material, food, banking services, telecommunications, maintenance and repair, dredging(estimated at between $47 and $60 million annually).

• Services to passengers and crewmembers transiting the Canal, which in 2000 numbered 255,571 and 458,134 respectively.
  o Services to smaller ships, such as yachts and motor cruisers, which totaled 1,748 in 2001.

• The relocation of approximately 8 to 10 thousand persons, as a result of Canal expansion, requiring housing and infrastructure.

• Cruise ship reception and tourism.

• Others

In terms of related air transport opportunities, Tocumen International Airport should be developed as an international and regional hub for both passenger traffic and cargo; the former Howard airforce base should become an aviation industrial center, making use of its modern airport facilities; and construction of the cargo airport at France Field in the Atlantic must be completed.

On December 31, 1999, the U.S. turned over the Panama Canal to Panama'?new Canal Authority. This date marks a new era for Panama.

The canal areas, where these bases were located, comprise 233,000 acres of prime real estate and over 7,000 commercial and residential buildings. As a result of this land transfer, unique investment opportunities exist in the tourism, technology, forestry, maritime, real estate, transport and industry sectors.

The Interoceanic Region Authority (ARI) administers these properties and has so far awarded US$2.5 billion in projects to international and national interests for the development of industrial zones, hotel complexes, educational centers, ports, railroad, transport complexes, marinas, commercial and residential areas, golf courses and much more.