Participating in the 2026 Maritime, Logistics and Port Forum

Puerto Barú in David participated in the 2026 Maritime, Logistics and Port Forum, a high-level gathering that brought together representatives from the public and private sectors to analyze the current situation, challenges, and opportunities facing Panama’s maritime and logistics sector. At the event, Ismael González, General Director of Puerto Barú in David, presented the project’s vision and its role as a key component in strengthening connectivity in western Panama and connecting the region’s productive potential with the country’s logistics platform.

Under the theme “Connectivity, Investment and Innovation to Strengthen Panama’s Hub,” the forum addressed the main challenges facing the maritime and logistics industry, including port development, sustainability, competitiveness, and digital transformation.

During the panel “Ports of the Future: Infrastructure, Sustainability and Competitiveness,” González highlighted that Panama’s challenge is not only to continue strengthening the logistics platform that already distinguishes the country, but also to connect more territories to that advantage and integrate more Panamanians into this regional growth.

In the case of western Panama, Puerto Barú seeks to incorporate maritime connectivity into a network that already has land and air infrastructure, bringing Chiriquí’s production, tourism, and logistics activities closer to new markets. The project involves a 100% privately funded investment with North American capital, estimated at $250 million, and responds to a vision that has been studied for more than three decades, beginning with the 1994 Master Plan and subsequent studies.

“Puerto Barú is going to play an important role in the transformation and serve as a catalyst for the opportunities that already exist in western Panama. More than a logistics platform, the port will integrate a region with great potential based on three fundamental pillars: agribusiness, tourism, and logistics,” said González.

This connectivity can facilitate access for the agribusiness sector to new markets and logistics services, create new alternatives for connecting visitors with destinations in western Panama, and strengthen warehousing, distribution, and other activities linked to supply chains. This is complemented by the impact on job creation throughout the different stages of the project, with an estimated 1,200 direct jobs during the two-year construction period.

The development is also envisioned in coordination with the territory and its communities. As part of this vision, Puerto Barú in David has promoted initiatives in education, healthcare, nutrition, community infrastructure, and capacity building for nearby communities.

Puerto Barú in David’s participation in this forum reaffirms its vision of contributing to greater territorial integration of Panama’s logistics platform and of connecting the productive potential of western Panama with new opportunities for investment, trade, employment, and development.