Recently, the Panama Canal unveiled an ambitious ten-year plan aimed at solidifying its global trade strategic position, ensuring long-term sustainable development, and generating tangible benefits for the country.

The vision for the canal is rooted in two core pillars. The first pillar focuses on water resource security, ensuring the long-term stability of operations by enhancing the storage capacity of water supply facilities and optimizing canal operations. The second pillar is sustainable growth, aiming to expand operations and increase capacity without a corresponding increase in water usage. Through these measures, the canal seeks to fully leverage the value of its route and continue to earn the trust of global customers.

Based on this vision, the Panama Canal will transcend its traditional role as a transoceanic channel and evolve into a comprehensive logistics center, strengthening Panama's competitive advantage in the global trade landscape.

At a media event, the Minister of Canal Affairs, Jose Ramon Icaza, officially presented this vision, with the presence of the Canal Authority Director, Ricaurte Vasquez Morales, Vice Director and Chief Sustainability Officer, Ilya Espino de Marotta.

The Panama Canal will invest over 8 million balboas in a series of strategic projects aimed at creating job opportunities and driving national economic growth.

These projects include the Rio Indio reservoir project, benefiting over a million Panamanians with water supply and enhancing the reliability of canal navigation to maximize value.

Another project is the Transoceanic Energy Corridor, comprising a 76-kilometer oil pipeline and two offshore terminals capable of transporting up to 2.5 million barrels of energy products per day, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts without the need for locks. The construction phase of this project is expected to create over 45,000 jobs and provide 11,000 positions during operation, with an estimated total economic benefit exceeding 640 billion balboas over the project's lifecycle. Additionally, the project is projected to contribute over 647 million balboas in revenue to the country and generate over 35 billion balboas in fiscal revenue from 2031 to 2050 for social projects.

Furthermore, the Colon Free Trade Zone on the east coast will be integrated into a land-based logistics platform interconnected by road and rail.

Every canal project, from planning to implementation, is guided by a focus on human welfare. For example, through extensive and ongoing dialogue with local residents, the Rio Indio reservoir project will lay the foundation for sustainable development beyond the project itself, ensuring substantial investments in critical areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and employment to improve livelihoods.

Moreover, the canal is committed to integrating local suppliers and service providers into the project system to ensure that economic benefits reach the entire community. Specialized training and capacity building will be conducted to enhance local professional skills, enabling the community to fully leverage the opportunities brought about by canal development.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) ensures transparency throughout all project development processes. For the Energy Corridor project, the ACP Board of Directors has approved the initiation of the contractor selection process, with bidding expected to take place in the second quarter of 2026, attracting international companies with significant experience in similar infrastructure projects.

The feasibility study for the Colon Free Trade Zone has entered the contract phase, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2026 and construction planned to commence in 2028.

This vision once again underscores the Panama Canal's commitment to the nation and the world: serving as a global trade engine and a driver of economic growth, creating a fairer, more resilient, and sustainable future for all Panamanians.