A Final Decision on the Puerto Barú Project is Called for by the Maritime Chamber

The Panama Maritime Chamber requested a final decision in the legal process related to the Puerto Barú project, located in David, Chiriquí province, considering that the outcome of the process is important for legal certainty and investor confidence.  In a statement issued on July 29, the association noted that “legal certainty is one of the fundamental pillars for protecting private investment, strengthening investor confidence, and consolidating Panama as a competitive destination for the development of strategic projects.”  The Maritime Chamber indicated that the legal process related to Puerto Barú “reaches a definitive decision that continues to provide legal certainty and confidence to those who are committed to investing and contributing to the sustainable development of the country.”  What the mangroves look like below where the Puerto Barú will be built.

The union recalled that on December 30, 2024, the Supreme Court of Justice, through Edict No. 3556, reaffirmed the validity of the Environmental Impact Study of the project, after the competent authorities carried out the technical and scientific evaluation process.  According to the Maritime Chamber, the approval of the study demonstrates that the project was subjected to the environmental and regulatory procedures established by Panamanian legislation.  “The culmination of this legal process will contribute to strengthening legal security, providing greater certainty to private investment and continuing to project Panama as a reliable country for the development of long-term initiatives,” the association stated.  A projection of the is pictured below.

The organization emphasized that a final court decision would have effects in various areas, including “the confidence of domestic and foreign investors,” “the protection of private investment and the stability of the business climate,” and “the generation of direct and indirect jobs.”  Regarding the project’s impact on Chiriquí, the Maritime Chamber stated that “Puerto Barú in David represents an opportunity to expand and decentralize the national port infrastructure, promote new production chains, and strengthen the connectivity of a region with high economic potential.”  The association added that projects of this nature require “a legally secure environment that provides confidence to those who decide to invest in Panama, generate employment and contribute to the well-being of thousands of Panamanian families.”