Friday
Friday 7th March 2025.
March 6, 2025
“A transaction like this cannot be completed in two days ,” said Panama’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Julio Moltó , referring to the recent purchase of the Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison by the American fund manager BlackRock.
The operation, valued at nearly 23 billion dollars, includes the transfer of the concession of the Panamanian ports of Balboa and Cristóbal, on the banks of the Panama Canal.
The announcement comes amid tensions between Panama and the United States over US President Donald Trump ‘s threat to take back control of the waterway, claiming that its operation is in the hands of China, a claim that the Panamanian government and the Panama Canal Authority strongly deny.
Telemetro interviewed Moltó on Thursday, March 6. He was asked: when did the government find out about this transaction? He responded that it is a private decision and that the government’s role is to guarantee compliance with local regulations. However, he added that the concession of the ports is not a simple commercial asset: its administration directly impacts Panama’s competitiveness as a global logistics hub .
The minister recalled that President José Raúl Mulino met in Davos, Switzerland, with one of the owners of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The meeting took place on January 23 of this year. The president met with Diego Aponte , president and CEO of MSC.
MSC is a subsidiary of Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), one of the companies involved in the CK Hutchison acquisition agreement.
Also present at the meeting was Ricaurte Vásquez, administrator of the Panama Canal, and the strategic interests of MSC in Panama were discussed, as well as its plan for collaboration with the Government in key areas such as investments in logistics infrastructure, intermodal transport, as well as the implementation of technological innovations in ports.
The Office of the Comptroller General is currently auditing Panama Ports Company (PPC) , operator of the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, to verify compliance with its contractual commitments, including payment to the State and the presentation of accurate financial reports. The audit, which began on January 20, adds a level of scrutiny to the operation and could influence the final approval of the transfer.
The concession contract establishes that PPC can transfer its rights to companies registered in Panama, but if the transfer is to an unrelated firm, authorization from the Cabinet Council is required. This is a key point, since the government will have to decide whether the sale to BlackRock meets the established requirements or whether additional conditions are imposed.
Asked whether the administrative procedures would allow the transaction to be completed before April, Moltó said that BlackRock has “all the conditions well analyzed” and that the process will go through the necessary government agencies. “There is definitely time ,” the minister said.
He added that President José Raúl Mulino will make the necessary decisions, including taking the project to the cabinet.
The minister highlighted the operation as a sign of confidence in the country’s economic stability. However, the issue goes further: the agreement not only reconfigures the power dynamics in the logistics sector, but also tests the capacity of the Panamanian State to regulate and supervise strategic concessions in an environment of increasing international pressure.
In Panama, CK Hutchison’s relationship with the government has been heavily questioned. The company operates the ports of Cristóbal and Balboa , and its concession contract was extended for 25 years without any improvement in conditions for the country , even though the decision was made after the expansion of the Panama Canal and amid doubts about the company’s transparency.
Currently, there are two pending lawsuits:
- A claim of unconstitutionality against the concession contract.
- An administrative lawsuit in the Supreme Court against the extension of the port concession.
The Ministry of Security presented a report to the Government Commission of the National Assembly , in which it addressed various issues related to security and the performance of the institution. Figures indicate that, on average, 18 people are arrested every day for micro-trafficking or drug trafficking crimes .
The Deputy Minister of Security, Luis Felipe Icaza , detailed that, in 2024, a total of 58,263 people were arrested, of which 35,282 had arrest warrants , 6,482 were caught in the act and 12,756 were detained for administrative offenses.
In addition, 3,330 people were arrested for micro-trafficking and 3,313 for drug-related crimes. In operational terms, 19,449 raids were carried out and 5.5 million dollars, 4,254 firearms and 35,386 packages of drugs were seized.
Despite these achievements, the deputy minister acknowledged that some crimes have shown worrying increases. In particular, homicide increased by 6.6% during 2024, although other crimes, such as robbery, showed a reduction of 7.2%.
The number of raids also decreased by 11.5%, while firearms seizures increased by 58.8%. Drug seizures also increased by 1% and the number of people arrested increased by 24%, reflecting a direct impact of security forces operations.
The director of the National Police, Jaime Fernández , was also present at the presentation of the report, and referred to the purge within the institution.
The official explained that the Directorate of Professional Responsibility (DRP) is currently handling more than 900 cases, of which 100 have already resulted in the dismissal of agents. He acknowledged that, in an organization with more than 25,000 members, negative situations are inevitable, but he assured that there is no cover-up and that measures are being taken to guarantee the honorability of the institution.
He also highlighted the work carried out during the carnivals, where citizens were able to notice the police presence on the streets and their commitment to security.
Another of the topics discussed was the management of drug seizures and their subsequent disposal. Currently, the National Police and the National Aeronaval Service hold approximately 45 tons of drugs, including marijuana and cocaine.
For disposal, an incinerator is used that operates in constant burning cycles, processing almost a ton of illicit substances per day. The director assured that the system complies with all environmental regulations and that it has been coordinated with the Panama Canal Authority and the Municipality of Arraiján to ensure its proper functioning.
Regarding police checkpoints, the director explained that, although there is a presidential directive to reduce their number, there are situations in which their implementation is still necessary.
He cited as an example a case that occurred in December, when an intelligence alert warned of a possible bank robbery. Although he acknowledged that these operations can cause discomfort among citizens, he defended their usefulness in capturing criminals and preventing crimes.
The Panama Canal strengthens commercial and strategic ties with Japan in logistics and maritime matters.
During a visit to Tokyo to participate in the International Conference on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) “Facing the challenges of LPG trade flows,” the administrator of the Panama Canal, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, held key meetings with representatives of the trade and maritime industry of that country, reaffirming the commitment and reliability of the Panamanian interoceanic route.
During the trip to Japan, the administrator met with Yasushi Noguchi, Director General of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA), a meeting in which the Panamanian ambassador to Japan, Walter Cohen, also participated. At this meeting, the efficiency and reliability of the Panama Canal over the last 25 years under Panamanian administration was highlighted.
Japan is the third largest user of the Canal in terms of cargo volume , which reinforces the importance of these meetings to strengthen cooperation and ensure the efficient flow of international trade.
The Canal administrator also held meetings with other representatives of Japanese maritime and energy companies, such as Astomos Energy Corporation , NYK Line Shipping Company, Mitsui & Co. , and spokespeople from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) .
A total of 85,607 passengers were transported by sea on 8,897 trips nationwide during the “Guardianes 2025” Carnival Operation, reported the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP).
Compared to the previous year, this figure reflects an increase of 42.5%, which is equivalent to 25,533 additional passengers, the entity reported.
To carry out surveillance and supervision actions, the AMP reported that 140 inspectors were deployed in the main ports, docks and berths of the country.
The task consisted of verifying the validity of navigation permits and safety certificates, as well as checking compliance with safety measures for the protection of passengers and crew.
A total of 139 drivers of state vehicles were sanctioned during the 2025 Carnival festivities for various irregularities.
This was announced by the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic in a statement on Thursday, March 6. It stated that, during the four days of Carnival, 941 vehicles were inspected, of which 139 had anomalies.
For example, officials were identified without a license, without a safe-conduct pass, some with expired license plates and without an insurance policy.
In addition, according to the Comptroller’s Office, cases were detected in which unauthorized persons were transported for official missions.
The Ministry of Health leads the list of entities with the most sanctions, followed by the Ministry of Agricultural Development, the Ministry of Education, the Presidency and the staff of the Colon Free Zone.
Fines range from $200 to $500. In the event of a repeat offence, the official may be dismissed in accordance with the law.
Stickers and license plates for March 2025 are now available for collection, the Municipal Treasury of the district of Panama reported.
The Municipality of Panama reminded vehicle owners that, in order to remove the sticker or plate, they must meet the following requirements: have a municipal clearance certificate, have paid the Annual Circulation Tax and have a valid Vehicle Inspection.
The License Plate Center, located in the Francisco Arias Paredes Park, next to the Hatillo building, is open Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
In the event that the owner cannot attend in person, he or she may authorize another person by means of an authorization note, accompanied by a copy of the identification card.
Following the celebration of Carnival, fuel prices were announced on Thursday and will go into effect starting this Friday, March 7.
The National Energy Secretariat announced the new prices, which show a slight decrease.
95 octane gasoline will sell for $0.914 per liter ($3.46 per gallon) and 91 octane gasoline will cost $0.861 per liter ($3.26 per gallon).
Regarding low-sulfur fuel, it is announced that it will be sold at $0.835 per liter ($3.16 per gallon).
The new reference prices will be in effect from 6:00 am on Friday, March 7, until 5:59 am on Friday, March 21.