Panama & Caribbean Investment: #1 Panama to Colon highway
Jul 9 2008
Posted by admin 
in Panama Real Estate, Panama investment, Uncategorized
I have compiled a 10 point list of why the Investor in Panama, or an individual just looking to have a high return on their money, should buy at Bala Beach. Bala Beach community has a number of unique features that sets itself from any other project here in Panama and here is why:
1. The new highway from Panama City to Colon.
Currently, Panama is constructing a new 4 lane highway from Panama City to Colon that will drastically reduce the commute to Bala Beach from 1 hour and 15 minutes to 45 minutes. This is not a just a slab of asphalt with 4 lines painted on it, the new highway will be a first world, center divided, with a state-of-the-art drainage system and will be complete April 2009.
Panama City-Colon Highway on youtube
What does this mean for Bala Beach? Well, if you were to look at property values worldwide you would notice that property values located in areas with a high quality infrastructure are worth A LOT more money, typically 2-10 times more. This trend is especially more pronounced in developing world countries because of the shortage of high quality infrastructure or infrastructure at all.
(usual developing world infrastructure)
To the Panama investor, there are a lot of articles and sales people touting their projects as located on the most beautiful beaches, in the most authentic towns, having the best views of the mountains or ocean, coolest climate, cleanest air etc… These are all great reasons and we all have an assortment of them because Panama is so well endowed with beautiful landscape and vibrant culture. However, when it comes to being less than 45 minutes away from Tocumen International Airport, no other project has it.
To reach these other projects, visitor and residents have two exhausting options to choice from. First, get in a car or bus from the Airport for another 2-10 hours. Second, wait in Tocumen to take another plane to a regional airport and take another car ride to the area. These might not sound appealing to someone who had just got off international flight.
With Bala Beach, these inconveniences do not exist. The new Colon-Panama City highway will make our beachfront community the closest such community that Panama Real Estate has to offer. Bala Beach will be 45 minutes from Panama City and International Airport. If the global trend continues pertaining to real estate values with high quality infrastructure, when the new highway is complete Bala Beach units will have gained and continue to gain a significant amount of property appreciation.
These infrastructure and location factors are one of the 10 reasons that Bala Beach community stands apart from any other residential project in Panama today. People who invest in Bala Beach are going to be making a very profitable decision.
Direct flights from Canada to Panama ready for takeoff
Jul 7 2008
Posted by admin in Panama Real Estate, Panama investment, Uncategorized
June 19th :
The Canadian and Panamanian governments formally came to an agreement that will establish the initial framework for direct flights between the two countries. Currently, there exist no direct flights from Canada to Panama and all flights bound for the two countries are routed through the US. Being routed through the US, with its prison type cavity search and long flight layovers, causes headaches and is time consuming for passengers.
Minister Cannon speaking to reports said. “The new agreement will benefit passengers, businesses, air carriers and airports through a greater range of travel options…I am pleased to announce the conclusion of a new air transport agreement with the Republic of Panama, a close bilateral partner of Canada.”
Canadians and Panamanians can now rejoice at the fact that they can now fly directly into each others countries with not first getting routed through 2,3, or even 4 airports and that they can now carry on their valuable 6 oz shampoo and lotion bottles. Probably future direct flights to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City will include; Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver B.C., and other Canadian international hubs.
Furthermore, this trade agreement is very symbolic for both countries.
For Canada, it’s an opportunity to expand its economic presence in the region. According to the article, trade between the two countries totaled $115 million with Canada exporting $86.4 million of their products and services to the Panamanian market. In addition, Canada is looking to strengthen their relationship with Panama because of its strategic transportation location with the Panama Canal.
For Panama, it is a chance to establish itself in the minds of Canadian business, retirees, and tourists. At this time, Canada has direct flights to Latin and Caribbean countries such as Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic thus giving those counties a competitive advantage over Panama. But Panama is striving to become the Dubai of Latin America and sees these direct flights as a means to attract multi-national business to relocate or expand, retirees to live, and tourist to visit.
In the near future, both countries are pursuing a bilateral free trade agreement that will further strength their relation and will create more direct flights.
Link to full article:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2008/08-h148e.htm
Increased Air Traffic at Panama’s Tocumen International Airport
Jul 4 2008
Posted by admin in Panama Real Estate, Panama investment, Uncategorized
Adapted from original:
La Prensa Wednesday June 25, 2008
By Roberto Gonzalez Jimenez
Tocumen Registered 18.15% More Passengers Until April
Confirming what most folks in Panama have already noticed, official numbers were released this week that show a significant increase in air traffic in Panama. With international tourism, real estate and business all booming in Panama, it’s no wonder that the Tocumen International Airport is handling more flights and passengers this year than it ever has before.
The number of passengers who used the Tocumen International Airport in Panama between the months of January and April of 2008 grew by 18.15% versus the same time period last year, reported the Tocumen Corporate quarterly report.
Overall there were 423,994 passengers who departed, arrived or made connections to other flights at the airport.
Panama is definitely one of the major – if not the top, maritime hub in all of the Western Hemisphere; but it is also trying to become a regional leader in air traffic as well. With a growing economy, Panama needs to accommodate more international contacts, connections and relations to take advantage of today’s global economy. Panama’s central location makes it a desirable location to do business, but also makes it an ideal spot to organize and redistribute regional air traffic. It would be easy to leave your home, fly directly to Panama, and then transfer onto another flight that will take you to your final destination.
According to the report, the Tocumen terminal has enjoyed the highest rate of air traffic growth in all of Latin America, beating out the regional average of 8.2%
In terms of the general movement of all air travel, including both passenger and cargo planes, traffic increased 14.4% over the first quarter of 2008.
In 2007 3.8 million passengers used the Tocumen airport.
The capacity of the airport will pass from 5 million currently per year up to 10 million once the construction of the northern dock is completed, assured Orcila de Constable, the general manager of the Tocumen International Airport.
With an additional terminal under construction that is set to double the airport’s capacity, Panama and the Tocumen International Airport may soon pass air traffic through the isthmus in a similar fashion to the way boats and cargo ships go in and out of the Canal.
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