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In the News from Panama

Historic Panama Canal Expansion Set to Debut in June

After years of delays and controversy, the much-anticipated expansion of the Panama Canal appears set to complete in June.

The expansion was set back last year when leaks were discovered in one of the new set of locks. But tests on the repairs have been completed and the expansion is back on track to go fully operational in the months ahead.

Authorities still won’t pledge to a date, but they appear confident the major obstacleshave been passed.

“We can’t commit to a date at this time, but if everything goes like it did during the latest trial that took place Thursday, the builder should be able to meet the mileposts that lie ahead, which would take us to May 31,” Ilya Espino, who is overseeing the locks project for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), told local media.

The expansion, which will end up costing more than $6 billion, will have dramatic impacts on economies around the region, including Panama City. Ports around North America and South America are moving to expand facilities to handle cargos from the bigger ships.

The expansion should bring Panama a boost of $1.4 billion in revenue in 2017, a jump of 30 percent for the year, according to a report by Reuters. But that is only the start, as Panama continues to grow to meet the needs of the increased traffic

The expansion of the Canal will also fuel the continued expansion of multi-national operations in Panama City, which translates as more sales and renters in the local real estate market. We’ve already seen the impact in Punta Pacifica, where the towers offer the type of luxury waterfront apartments preferred by company executives.

Here is the latest video of the Canal expansion:

Duncan McGowan is president of Punta Pacifica Realty, a Panama real estate agency focused on Punta Pacifica, the exclusive neighborhood of 18 towers perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.