Panama Pacifico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Panama Pacifico Howard Air Force Base Panamá Pacífico International Airport
Panama Pacifico Location in Panama
Country	Panama
Province	West Panamá Province
District	Arraiján District
Construction started	November 13, 2008
Area
• Total	14,1 km2 (54 sq mi)

Panama Pacifico is a large community being built in Veracruz, Arraiján District, Panama. It's a special place where people can live, work, and have fun all in one area. This community is built on what used to be Howard Air Force Base, which is now the Panamá Pacífico International Airport.

Panama Pacifico is easy to get to. It's only about 15 minutes from downtown Panama City. It's also close to the Pan-American Highway, a major road that connects North and South America.

A group of companies, including London & Regional Properties and a banker named Jaime Gilinski, are working together to build Panama Pacifico. They have a special agreement to develop this area for 40 years. They promised to invest a lot of money, about $405 million USD, in the first eight years starting from 2007. The entire area they are developing is very big, covering about 3,450 acres of land.

What is Panama Pacifico?

The government of Panama wanted to create a special place for businesses and families. So, they made the Panama Pacifico Special Economic Area in 2004. This means the area has special rules to help it grow.

They also created the Agency of Special Economic Area Panama Pacifico (APP). This agency helps manage, promote, and develop the area. It makes sure everything runs smoothly.

Goals for the Community

When the project started, the APP had big goals for Panama Pacifico:

• To develop a total of 1,400 hectares (about 3,450 acres).
• To use 850 hectares for building homes and businesses.
• To create 1 million square meters of space for shops and offices.
• To build 20,000 homes and apartments for people to live in.
• To create 40,000 jobs for people.
• To have lots of parks, open spaces, and fun areas.
• To build shopping malls.
• To have hotels for businesses and visitors.

Homes in Panama Pacifico

Panama Pacifico is planned to have 20,000 homes in different neighborhoods. Some of these neighborhoods include Soleo, Mosaic, Nativa, River Valley, Woodlands, Kobbe Hills, and Puente Verde.

There will also be a main area called the Town Center. This will be a central spot for shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. It will be surrounded by beautiful nature, like mangroves, wetlands, and tropical forests.

Businesses and Jobs

Companies that set up their offices or factories in Panama Pacifico get special benefits. These benefits include special tax rules, labor rules, and legal rules. This makes it attractive for businesses to come here.

Many big international companies have already moved to Panama Pacifico. Some of these include 3M, DELL, VF, BASF, Samtec, and Caterpillar.

By the end of 2012, many new buildings were completed. These included ten new warehouses and four large office buildings. Companies from around the world, especially those involved in shipping, light manufacturing, and technology, find Panama Pacifico a great place for their operations in Latin America. More than 160 companies are now working in this special area. Eight of these companies are even on the Fortune 500 list, which means they are among the largest companies in the United States.

Education

Panama Pacifico is also home to several schools and colleges:

• Lycée français Paul Gauguin de Panama: This is a private international school. It teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. Classes are mainly in French, but students also learn English and Spanish.
• The Renaissance Academy of International Learning (TRAIL): This is another private school for children from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. All classes are taught in English.
• Howard Kids Academy: This private school teaches students from preschool to 8th grade. They also offer classes for students who are learning English as a second language.
• Magen David Academy: This is a private school for children of the Jewish faith. It offers classes from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade, and classes are in English.
• Universidad del Caribe: This is a four-year college where classes are taught in Spanish.
• Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá: This is another four-year college, and its classes are also in Spanish.

See also

• In Spanish: Panamá Pacífico para niños