U.S. supports Panama air cargo cold storage study

U.S. supports Panama air cargo cold storage study    The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded a $258,000 grant to Gulf Coast International Cargo Panama S.A. to help conduct a feasibility study on the construction of an air cargo facility with cold storage capability at Tocumen International Airport.
   “At present, few air cargo facilities in Latin America and the Caribbean have cold storage capacity, which hampers the region’s ability to develop international markets for its perishable products and contributes to the region’s food insecurity,” USTDA said.
   Gulf Coast Panama, a private cargo and distribution firm, proposed to build a 2,330-square-meter air cargo facility at Tocumen that would include a refrigerated storage area for perishable goods.
   “The study will provide Gulf Coast Panama with a market analysis, an assessment of facility requirements, a financial plan, and both developmental and environmental impact analyses, all of which are needed to order to move to project implementation,” USTDA said.
   U.S. companies may compete for the USTDA-funded study through the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, which is available on USTDA's Web site. Gulf Coast Panama will select the company.