The upcoming anniversary, June 2008, celebrates major achievements of the Colon Free Zone in its 60 years of existence. Of major significance is the social responsibility program.

The national government, under the administration of the President of the Republic of Panama, Martin Torrijos Espino, has invested more than 20 million dollars in the last three years to assist the development of Colon’s infrastructure. It has invested in scholastic centers, health facilities, sports coliseums, and made donations to non - governmental and charible organizations.

The general manager, Nilda Quijano added that the government has established continuous socio-economic development programs in the Colon Province by using part of the profits from the Colon Free Zone, “We also make donations to non-governmental organizations and religious organizations, and major equipment for our health institute built by a generous donation from the Manzanillo International Terminal, one of our member companies,” said Quijano.

Recognizing the needs of the people Quijano explained that social responsibility is a high priority for her administration. In 2005 alone, the administration spent $7.88 million on local community development. Total contribution, 2005-2006 amounted to $10.44 million. By 2007, over $20.24 million was used to restore schools and provide computer laboratories, to assist with medical infrastructure, to build homes for abandoned children and children with HIV/Aids, for the technical rehabilitation of the laboratory of the technical university, and for a large number of much-needed community development projects.

One of the major projects is housing for low-income families. “We have recognized an important need of the people,” said Quijano, “and (we) will work diligently to make housing accessible to low income families.”

Nilda Quijano, general manager Colon Free Trade Zone

The companies operating in the Colon Free Zone are also involved in assisting the communities of Colon Province. “The last fours years represent the first time in the history of the Colon Free Zone where our administration has been able to integrate the businessmen of the free zone to work hand in hand in the accomplishment of social projects for the development of the communities of Colon Province,” Quijano pointed out.

“We, with the support of the Colon Free Zone members,” she said, “show our commitment (to) social responsibility through programs such as ‘Enterprise Social Management’ and ‘International Social Management,’ contributing the gains to the benefit of the community.”

Business and government work together “I believe that business and government should work together to attempt to meet the needs of the people of the Colon Province,” she says. “Over the years, the free zone was unable to build a balance between the economic gains and the social development of the community. There is poverty beyond the gates and we are aware of this.

This is where I grew up. With the support of the companies of the free zone, the administration has focused community development projects on sports, education, health, and housing. We will continue to identify areas of need and try our best to meet them.”

Farmazona, Panafoto, Universal Cargo, Vida Panama, Colon Containers, Motta International, Mays, and the Manzanillo International Terminal, and indeed the Users Association of the Colon Free Zone, and the Colon Chamber of Commerce are some of the companies and agencies that are major contributors to the social responsibility programs in different ways.

“The Manzanillo group – where I worked for over eight years – gave two million dollars, which we used to construct the health institute for major services such as mammograms, ultrasounds, etc,” she explained. “The administration paid for all of the institute’s equipment. We also collaborated with other companies in the zone to build computer rooms in three public high schools and equip them with up to 40 computers each. This is in addition to what the Colon Free Zone Administration is already contributing to the communities of the province.” ≤ ≤