Judith Pena | June 14, 2023
The presidential candidate of the Popular Party (PP), Martín Torrijos Espino, and representatives of the aviation industry, consider that the preparation of a strategic plan for the proper functioning of the aeronautical sector and in accordance with the aeronautical codes of Costa Rica, Colombia and the Republic cannot be postponed. Dominican.
In a face-to-face dialogue, industry representatives stated that the civil aeronautics situation in the country is “careful”, while pointing out that it is difficult for students to get a job at airports.
Likewise, it is necessary to develop aviation, tourism, aircraft maintenance and training, they warned.
They considered it urgent that the Civil Aeronautics Authority (AAC) expedite the processes and bureaucratic procedures; that the entity empowers itself and improves its structure, adopting significant changes.
Also, that its Board of Directors be reorganized through a new profile of its members, who are suitable people with a broad vision of the industry.
After listening to each approach, Torrijos Espino revealed that the country is experiencing critical moments and warned “that if we do not resume [el control] it will be more difficult to compose it again. There are great economic and social inequalities that must be addressed, ”he added.
The former president of the Republic stated that it is important to work on the aeronautical plan, for which a team (discussion table) will be formed to create the conditions and all parties involved participate in order to achieve an agreed document that reflects the necessary changes, that allow the system to be updated.
“We must have the correct approach to develop the country’s aeronautics, we must achieve a single understanding and that collective interests prevail. If one goes well for the other too; everyone has to live together; we must give the aeronautical authority the institutionality it deserves [Civil]”, said Torrijos Espino.
He added that he has the will to support this important industry and, although he does not know how public finances will be in this five-year period, if the plan is one of the priorities, it can be implemented. “You can be sure that in the next five years Panama will not be like today,” he stressed.
“For this reason, I propose that in this stage of retaking and rebuilding the country we look at areas that can grow so that not everything is concentrated in the capital; We must develop development poles like in Chiriquí, where a great effort has been made to have a Competitiveness Center in various sectors of civil society such as the Chamber of Commerce, ”he said.
The PP presidential candidate highlighted that growth areas such as agriculture, tourism and agribusiness have been identified in that region, so it is ideal for this model to be replicated in the rest of the provinces, in such a way that tourism is promoted internationally and jobs are generated.
