The Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Panama (MICI) reaffirms its commitment as a facilitator of investments in the maritime sector.
The Minister of Commerce and Industries of Panama, Julio Moltó, held a meeting with Germán Suárez, president of ALIMIA Shipyards Group, owner of Astilleros Puerto de Balboa (Astibal), along with the Spanish shipyards Astican and Astander, where they highlighted the company’s interest in continuing its investment plan in Panama.
Suárez was accompanied at the meeting by Pedro Ortega, president of the Canary Islands Confederation of Entrepreneurs, and Luis Padrón, president of the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce.
During the meeting, Minister Moltó encouraged Astibal to take advantage of complementary business opportunities within the maritime sector, in which the company has demonstrated success. He also reiterated MICI’s commitment as a facilitator to ensure that the company’s current and future projects are developed for the benefit of the country.
For his part, Germán Suárez emphasized that Astibal’s vision is to continue driving the growth of the sector and attracting more maritime suppliers, thereby expanding the range of naval services in Panama. He also highlighted the high level of professionalism of Panamanian talent, as reflected in the satisfaction of international shipowners who trust in their services.
Astilleros Puerto de Balboa (Astibal)
In its third year of operations, Astibal has increased its workload and generated more employment, directly benefiting its team of workers. Currently, the company carries out repairs on all types of vessels and fleets, which has strengthened its operational capacity.
Located on the Pacific coast of the Panama Canal, Astibal has the capacity to dock Panamax-type vessels. Since its rehabilitation, it has invested over $22 million and operates with a workforce of 700 employees in rotating shifts 24 hours a day.
“We are meeting a key need in the international market. Today, Panama has a shipyard that offers high-quality and reliable naval repairs,” stated Suárez Calvo.
Astibal is part of ALIMIA Shipyards Group, a conglomerate with more than 30 years of experience in ship repair, maintenance, and conversion. In addition to its operations in Panama, the group manages the Astican shipyard in the Canary Islands and Astander in the Bay of Biscay.
This visit reaffirms the internationalization capacity of Canary Islands companies and their impact on the global economy. Additionally, it strengthens cooperation between the public and private sectors and reinforces development strategies within Panama’s maritime sector.
