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Reactivation of [Del Monte's] Banana Production in Chiriquí


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The resumption of banana production is critically important for Panama, Chiriqui, and the District of Baru, imo.

The folks around Puerto Armuelles need the economic and social benefits which would be stimulated by the return to growing in the area.

http://www.prensa.com/provincias/Obreros-reactivacion-negociaciones-gobierno-Monte_0_4529547175.html

Baru

Expectations of an Early Reactivation of Banana Production due to a Reboot of Negotiations between the Government and Del Monte

With the resumption of negotiations between the government and the transnational Del Monte, former workers expect a prompt reactivation in Baru banana.

One of the spokespersons of the former workers, Alexis Morales, explained that during the meeting with the government it was explained that the difficulty that there is in negotiations with the company Del Monte is the sale of the land, since the Constitution prohibits foreign to be owners of lands that are less than 10 kilometers from the border.

In this case, 90% of the lands in which will explode the multinational are located less than 10 kilometers [of the border with Costa Rica].

Before this fact has been proposed that the government would buy the land to the exobreros and lease it to Del Monte or that the exobreros leased the land to him of Mount for a period of 25 years, Morales said.

He also said that he asked the authorities to investigate to persons who have invaded the land.

The Minister of the Presidency, Alvaro German said that were going to look for mechanisms to resolve the problem of the land. Assured that efforts are made to enable the firm to make an investment of up to $220 million, which would generate important sources of work.

Mention that after the agreement with the multinational, the document will be brought to the Cabinet Council for then to be submitted to the National Assembly.

"I am confident that the draft law will be submitted in this legislative period to that in the summer the company can start its investment in the area," said German.

Edited by Keith Woolford
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Reactivation of Banana Production in Baru

The draft contract with Del Monte establishes a period of 20 years, which is "extendable" and a minimum investment of $100 million over 7 years.

Friday, October 21, 2016

The Minister of the Presidency, Alvaro German, said that the contract being negotiated with the multinational Del Monte also establishes a performance bond of 5% of the total value of the investment.


German explained to Panamaamerica.com.pa that "... 'The negotiations have been delayed, but a negotiation like this is complex. There were specific issues, such as land, which was complicated by the fact that they can not acquire them. And also because multinational companies like Del Monte have their own internal 'protocols. "

"... Once the government approves the draft contract, this will have to be countersigned by the Comptroller and the National Assembly before being signed, said the minister during a forum to promote investment in the western provinces of Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro and Ngäbe Bugle." 

http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Reactivation_of_Banana_Production_in_Baru

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Panama: Del Monte to Plant Bananas on State Owned Land

By Tom on November 15, 2016 in News from Panama
Post Views: 165

delmonte-banana

In addition to the lands belonging to the former employees of Coosemupar, the North American company Del Monte may also be able to use 4,000 hectares in the area that are owned by the state.

Depending on what is negotiated in the agreement between the government and Del Monte, the bill for which will be submitted to the Assembly in January, 4,043 hectares in the Baru area suitable for growing bananas could be used, land which is owned by the Panamanian government. These would be in addition to those leased by company, through the State, by the former employees of Coosemupar.

Prensa.com explains that “…The price at which the government will lease these lands caused a further delay. This led to a (government) team  … seeking a formula that pleased both sides. A source in the banana sector Baru said that at the start of negotiations Del Monte agreed to a price of more than $200 per hectare per year but with the right to a review. With the next agreement about to be finalised, the company requested an appraisal of these lands from the Comptroller.

“… Del Monte could ask the same price of $135, at which the State rented land to Chiquita Brands. In the end, this point may amount to $187.50.  Consulted on the price, the German minister said he could not provide information on this point, since the negotiations are not 100% complete. ‘That was the object of the negotiation, and we arrived at a reasonable figure for the state and for them (…) It was not what the state initially wanted or what they were asking for.’

http://panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com/blog/news-from-panama/panama-del-monte-to-plant-bananas-on-state-owned-land/

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President Varela just announced that Cabinet has approved a $100 million private investment by Banapiña s.a., a subsidiary of Del Monte, will be made in the banana growing regions of Alanje and Baru in Chiriqui, and around Chiriqui Grande in Bocas del Toro.

For us, this will hopefully mean that banana prices drop again. The birds at our feeder have been squawking about recent cutbacks due to the new price scale.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Keith Woolford
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Banana Production in Panama Reactivated

Del Monte will invest $100 million to produce bananas in Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro, and it is estimated that average productivity will reach 2,725 boxes of fruit per hectare per year.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:

The revival of the banana-growing areas in the provinces of Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro will become fact, after Wednesday's Cabinet Council approval of the conclusion of the Contract Law that will allow a subsidiary of the transnational fruit company Del Monte to invest more than 100 million dollars in banana production, announced the president of the Republic, Juan Carlos Varela.

With the revival of this business through the company Banapiña of Panama, S.A., it is expected that about 3,100 direct jobs will be generated along with the consequent generation of 12,000 indirect jobs in trade and services.

http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Banana_Production_in_Panama_Reactivated

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Panama: $100 Million for Banana Production

The Comptroller has confirmed the contract for Del Monte to invest $100 million in a maximum period of seven years, projecting an average productivity of 2,725 fruit boxes per hectare per year.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

The contract was endorsed by the Comptroller's Office, but requires the approval of the Cabinet and the approval of the National Assembly to become contract-law. 

From a statement issued by the Comptroller General of Panama:

The Comptroller General of the Republic, Federico Humbert, endorsed this morning an Agreement between the State and Banapiña de Panamá, S.A. This Agreement, in accordance with the terms and conditions, aims to develop a project designed to reactivate banana activities, creating new jobs and economic investments with direct and indirect impact on the social and economic aspects of the Barú-Alanje and Chiriquí Grande-Bocas del Toro areas.

It is estimated that the project will be developed in a period of no more than seven years with a minimum investment on the part of the company of ONE HUNDRED MILLION BALBOAS (B / .100,000,000.00), generating an approximate 3,100 direct jobs and the consequent generation of 12 thousand indirect jobs in trade and services.

 

http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_100_Million_for_Banana_Production

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$100 million banana deal creating 15,000 jobs

bananas-620x264.jpg

PANAMA’S COMPTROLLER  General has endorsed  a contract   in which  Del Monte will  invest $100 million over seven years,  creating over 3,000 direct and 12,000 indirect jobs.

It projects an average production  of 2,725 fruit boxes per hectare per year.

A statement issued by the Comptroller, Federico Humbert, said the agreement  between the State and Banapiña de Panamá, S.A. aims to develop a project designed to reactivate banana activities, creating new jobs and economic investments with direct and indirect impact on the social and economic aspects of the Barú-Alanje and Chiriquí Grande-Bocas del Toro areas.

“It is estimated that the project will be developed in a period of no more than seven years with a minimum investment on the part of the company of $100 million  generating approximate 3,100 direct jobs and the consequent generation of 12 thousand indirect jobs in trade and services.

 

http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-4/100-million-banana-deal-creating-15000-jobs

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  • Admin_01 changed the title to Reactivation of Del Monte's Banana Production in Chiriquí
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Moderator comment: Is it 15,000 or 3,000 new jobs? The same news organ can't make up its mind between two different articles. :(


 

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$100 million banana deal means 3,000 jobs

bananas-620x264.jpg

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY  has unanimously approved in second debate, a bill which guarantees a contract to revive banana production in Baru, creating 3,000 jobs and attracting a $100 million investment,

The contract is between the state and the company Banapiña de Panamá, S.A. ­ a subsidiary of Del Monte Fresh Products ­

Acting Minister of the Presidency Salvador Sánchez, explained  to the Assembly that the contract includes a lease of 4,000 hectares owned by the state and 1,700 hectares of private land that will be leased to the state. That land, in turn, will be farmed by Banapiña.

He said that the project also contemplates a development plan, not only in the task of planting and improving agricultural activities but also in the reactivation of the irrigation system and any other work necessary to increase banana activity with technology currently available.

The contract has a term of 20 years and is renewable for an additional 20 years, and has  the proviso that if the concessionaire meets the conditions of the contract, it is entitled to an automatic extension.

The company commits itself to investing at least $100 million over a seven­year period. The project will create some 3,000 jobs.

Sánchez added that the company must pay the municipal taxes to the district of the Barú,guaranteeing local revenue of $312,000.

“This will be a valuable investment, not only in terms of money, but also in improving the quality of life of the beneficiaries of that investment,” he said.

 

http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-4/100-million-banana-deal-means-3000-jobs

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Panama: Banana Production with Better Numbers

The renovation of plantations and a favorable climate explain the improvement in yield per hectare of bananas in Bocas del Toro, which in the last year rose from 1,700 boxes of 18 kilos to 2,600 boxes.

Monday, October 16, 2017

The figures were confirmed by representatives of Cooperativa Bananera del Atlántico (Coobana RL), which grows 550 hectares of bananas in Changuinola, Bocas del Toro. Of the total production, 60% is exported to Holland, 33% to Ireland and the rest is sold nationally.  

Prensa.com reports that "...A box of bananas is sold at $9.75, and every week between 20 and 24 containers of the fruit go to Europe, with an average of 1080 boxes weighing 18.14 kilos each."

See also "Central American Bananas: 78% bought by 3 Countries"

A favorable climate and the renovation of plantations has helped to improve productivity in the last year. Coobana reports that "... they managed to increase production by 53%."

Improved pest controls carried out on plantations has also had an influence on the positive results.

 

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_Banana_Production_Figures_Improve

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Progress in Banana Production Project

The sublease contract for 1,300 farms signed between Del Monte and the Panamanian government will allow banana production to start in Barú, Chiriqui.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:

The contract for the sub-leasing of more 1,300 farms for reactivation of banana production in Barú, province of Chiriquí, was signed on Monday by the Minister of the Presidency, Álvaro Alemán and the vice president of operations for Latin America of the company Del Monte, Jorge Pelaes.

See "Central American Bananas: 78% bought by 3 Countries"

The agreement, for 20 years, extendable, and for an amount of 9.9 million balboas, involves farms in Mango and Juabito, which will be the first to be used to start producing and exporting bananas.

The German minister stressed that there are only a few steps left for the Del Monte company, through its subsidiary Banapiña S.A., to begin operations, including: obtaining an endorsement from the General Comptroller of the Republic and the Environmental Impact Study from the Ministry of Environment.

Read full release (in Spanish).

 

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Progress_in_Banana_Production_Project

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Central American Banana Trade Growing

From January to September 2017, countries in the region exported $1.92 billion worth of bananas, 9% more than was sold abroad in the same period in 2016.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Figures from the Information System on the fresh or dried banana market in Central America compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData:

Exports by country 
In the first nine months of 2017, the main exporter of fresh or dried bananas in Central America was Costa Rica, with $784 million, followed by Guatemala, with $661 million, Honduras, with $380 million, Panama with $74 million, Nicaragua with $20 million and El Salvador, with a million dollars.

Variation of exports  
Between January and September of the years 2016 and 2017 the export volume of bananas registered an increase of 9%, rising from 4.1 million tons in 2016 to 4.6 million tons in 2017.

For the periods in question, the export value also recorded growth, rising from $1.762 billion in 2016 to $1.92 billion in 2017.

From January to September of the years between 2013 and 2017, the value of regional sales abroad has grown steadily at an annual average of 7%.  

Destination of exports 
From January to September 2017, 69% of the value exported from Central America went to the USA, 6% to the Netherlands, 4% to the United Kingdom and 3% to Italy.

 

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Central_American_Banana_Trade_Growing

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Banana Reactivation Makes Progress in Panama

Due to the delay in approval of the environmental permit, in the first stage of the project, the subsidiary of Del Monte will cultivate 650 hectares of banana, instead of the 970 hectares originally planned.

Monday, May 7, 2018

Prensa.com reports that "... The company Banapiña de Panamá, a subsidiary of Del Monte, imported 1.2 million meristems from Costa Rica, of the banana variety "gran naim", to begin the cultivation process at the end of this month."

See: "Banana Exports Up 7%"

Humberto Serrano, representative from the Ministry of the Presidency in the special commission for the reactivation of the banana sector in Barú, explained that "... 'The cut in the sowing schedule is due to the fact that there was a delay in the resolution of approval of the EIA. The environmental impact study was approved in February, and according to the company, they will no longer have time to plant the 970 hectares planned for 2018, on the Jobito and Mango farms.'"

The project to reactivate banana production in Barú, province of Chiriqui, includes an investment of $100 million by Del Monte, within a period of 7 years. The plan includes the development of 10 banana plantations in an area measuring of around 4,700 hectares.  See "Bananas: Details of a $100 million Investment"

 

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Banana_Reactivation_Makes_Progress_in_Panama

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Banana: Business with Italy Grows at 9%

In the first nine months of 2019, Central American companies recorded $1.87 billion in banana exports, and sales to Italy grew 9% over the same period in 2018.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData:

image.png

Costa Rica and Guatemala, Main Exporters
From January to September 2019, the main exporter of fresh or dry bananas in Central America was Costa Rica with $742 million, followed by Guatemala with $715 million, Honduras with $339 million, Panama with $101 million, Nicaragua with $18 million and El Salvador with $200,000.

Regional Business Downwards
Between the first nine months of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the value of banana exports recorded a decrease of 3%, from Ch$1,929 million to Ch$1,870 million.

In the case of exports made by the region to Italy grew for the periods in question, going from $63 million to $69 million.

The United States, Main Buyer
From January to September 2019, 65% of the value exported from Central America was destined for the USA, 10% for the Netherlands, 5% for the UK and 4% for Italy.

The Netherlands is the destination market for Central American exports that has grown the most in the first nine months of the last eight years, since in 2012 they represented less than 0.5% of sales and last year that proportion rose to 10%.

 

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Banana_Business_with_Italy_Grows_at_9

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Panama banana exports not affected by pandemic

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Posted 08/06/2020

Export banana production has not been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, saya  the Agriculture Ministry  director of bananas, Carlos Motta, at the Banapiña company in Barú, Chiriquí.

The fruit market for the three exporting companies (Chiquita, Del Monte and COBANA) has not varied and is carried out uninterruptedly, complying with international protocols and those issued by the Ministry of Health to avoid the contagion by the coronavirus.

Panama annually exports about 18.5 million boxes of bananas, generating more than $300 million in foreign currency for the country and a workforce of 9,300 direct jobs.

The banana activity in Barú represents an important contribution to the national economy and to this will be added, in the medium term, the production of pineapple, a fruit of high value in the markets of Europe and the United States.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-banana-exports-not-affected-by-pandemic

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