CONSTRUCTION  of the Tocumen Airport free zone will begin in eight months but the project has already created international and local interest.

The construction of a free zone, forms part of the Airport Authority’s logistical plan and,  according to Tocumen Manager Josep Fidanque III, operators who have expressed interest are the German company

Schenker, Blue Logistics (Colombia), the Panamanian firms J.

Cain & Co. and Colon Import, and two other groups who have preferred to remain anonymous.

Once the plans for the free zone are complete, Tocumen will convene a tender for construction. The free zone will be next to the cargo terminal.

The project will cost $15 million initially and eventually investment  will be $70 million. Fidanque said that concessions would only be granted to companies interested in leasing land.

"We will be seeking operators and not speculators," he said.