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Construction work has officially started on a $165 million cruise port on Amador Causeway, which is developing as a top Panama City destination.

Chinese company China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is working with Belgian company Jan de Nul to build the port on Perico Island. The new terminal will be large enough to serve as a home port, making the Amador Causeway the center of attention as more tourists flock to Panama.

At a press conference this week, CHEC representative Wang Bo said the new terminal will make the Perico Island area “a tourist destination,” according to coverage in Reuters. Wang also said CHEC, which is part of the government-owned China Communications Construction Company, has contracts in the Americas worth $7 billion.

PPR works with Naos Harbour Island Residences and Marina, one of the ground-breaking developments on Amador, which is positioned to be a prime beneficiary of the cruise ship port. Naos is strategically located on the other side of the island, which will provide a buffer from the traffic while allowing visitors to experience the beauty and tranquility of the location. Naos is also one of the few developments in Panama City that allows short-term rentals, which is one of the reasons investors are seeing opportunity in Naos from the cruise ship terminal.

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The new cruise port is big enough to serve as a home port, which means many visitors will be taking the opportunity to stay and visit Panama.

China’s involvement in the cruise port is another indication of China’s growing connections and influence in Panama. Since the relationship between the two countries was normalized in June, the government has been aggressively moving to clear any obstacles to trade and business growth, including removing visa restrictions on China travelers and discussing new air routes.

The signs of China’s escalating involvement in Panama can be found throughout the country. President Juan Carlos Varela’s next foreign trip will be to China, he noted during a speech this week.

“The diplomatic steps we made [with China] are bringing very precise benefits to the people of Panama with projects like this where Chinese companies are participating with efficient costs,” Pres. Varela said.

Pres. Varela also emphasized the importance of the cruise terminal to Panama’s economy. An estimated 600,000 to 700,000 tourists are expected to visit Panama on cruise ships in the next few years, he said.

Construction of the terminal is expected to generate about 1,000 direct jobs and 1,800 indirect jobs, providing a nice boost to the local economy, according to the Panama Maritime Authority. The terminal is expected to be completed and ready for ships in 18 months.

Here’s video of the planned terminal:

Brian Kelly is an expat living in Panama and father of one.  He is Project Manager of one of the most beautiful projects on Amador, the Naos Harbour Island Residences, and Marina. Click for more information: https://www.puntapacificarealty.com/naos-island/