The tender for the construction of the south platform will be opened in the coming weeks. Companies such as FCC, Acciona, Odebrecht and others from Spain, the Netherlands, Korea and Canada have shown interest in participating in the expansion of the terminal.

The construction project, which will cost valued at $400 million, will strengthen the airport by not only improving operation with increased capacity for cargo and tourist entries to the country, but also by creating new destinations.

Juan Carlos Pino, general manager of the Tocumen International Airport, declared that 'the economic growth registered in the country and that will increase this year, positions it with financially solidity and multimodal logistics that strongly attracts both local and foreign capital investment.'

The construction of the south platform will cover 5,000 square meters for duty-free shops. As each meter will cost approximately $100,000, 'we seek to obtain the money to finance the construction from that,' he explained.

Pino said that currently 100 thousand tons of cargo are transported, and this is expected to increase with the expansion, with more movement between America and Europe.

Costruction of a terminal dedicated exclusively to cargo is also contemplated, due to the boom registered by the logistics sector.

The airport expects to provide the State with $40 million in 2012.