The Panama Canal participated in Inside LatAm: Panama 2025, a forum organized by Moody’s Investors Service that brought together public and private leaders to analyze Panama’s economic outlook, risks, and opportunities within the regional context.
The Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales participated as a panelist where he reaffirmed the strategic role of the interoceanic waterway as a driver of national competitiveness and global trade, through which between 5% and 6% of world maritime trade transits. Progress in sustainability, energy diversification, and logistics development was also highlighted.
With a vision focused on national and regional development, the Panama Canal is driving strategic initiatives such as energy and logistics corridors, new port terminals, and strengthening the water system. These efforts aim to generate long-term value, stimulate innovation, and consolidate Panama as an essential hub for global trade and connectivity.
“The Panama Canal is synonymous with reliability and neutrality. Our immediate challenge is to ensure consistent water sustainability so that the waterway continues to serve the world today and for generations to come,” said Administrator Vásquez Morales.
He added that Panama’s geographic position represents a unique strategic advantage for international trade and that the canal’s institutional framework is supported by the Neutrality Treaty, which guarantees open, safe, and reliable operations for the global maritime community.
Water and Sustainability: A National Priority
The Panama Canal maintains a comprehensive sustainability strategy with an emphasis on decarbonization and climate change adaptation and has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Among the projects presented was the Río Indio Lake, a key initiative to increase the country’s water storage capacity. With an estimated investment of B/.1.6 billion, the project will ensure drinking water to more than half of the population and allow for as many as 15 additional transits daily during the dry season.
Energy and Logistics Diversification
As part of the Master Plan 2035, the Panama Canal is advancing projects that consolidate Panama as a logistics and energy hub. Among them is the interoceanic gas pipeline, which forms part of an energy corridor designed to strengthen supply security and diversify the interoceanic waterway’s sources of income.
During the construction stage, the project is expected to generate more than 6,500 jobs annually and nearly 9,600 while in the operational phase. Over the next ten years, the Panama Canal will allocate approximately B/.8.5 billion to strategic projects that will boost national competitiveness and ensure sustainable development at the Panama Canal.
