Panama's President Verifies Banana Industry Recovery

The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, met with the president of the Chiquita company, Carlos López Flores, to verify the progress in the recovery of banana activity in the province of Bocas del Toro. In the meeting, which took place on Tuesday, the head of state was accompanied by his ministers of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó; Jackeline Muñoz, Minister of Labor and Labor Development, and advisors. "President Mulino is 100% committed to the province of Bocas del Toro, and that economic recovery," stated Muñoz. "The plantation is in better conditions than we estimated, and we hope to continue with the plan a little more accelerated," highlighted the company president. Throughout the reactivation process of the banana farms, Mici and Mitradel have collaborated with Chiquita and the workers. "We are on schedule according to the original plan, very happy with the overall progress. Under various hiring figures, Chiquita has added 2,000 workers for the task of cleaning the banana farms," explained Carlos López Flores. The entire framework of cooperation between the National Government and Chiquita is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August of this year. Minister Muñoz, for her part, expressed her satisfaction that most of the new jobs in the Bocas del Toro farms are being taken by young people, particularly women. The reactivation of Chiquita opens the way to recover the level of the country's main export product, as Minister Moltó explains: "What we agreed in the memorandum has been fulfilled little by little, especially in the agricultural issue, and the cleaning of the farms." "We have received excellent support from the government, which gives us confidence in the country, confidence in our operation," reiterated López Flores. This week, the signing of direct contracts begins with a view to resuming fruit production and export in January 2026, and with the goal of having 5,000 workers in February, working at full steam. "We expect in the first semester, in February or March, to be in full production," he reiterated. Chiquita projects that by the end of 2026, it will be producing and exporting a quantity of tons and boxes of bananas at the same level as before the illegal strike of early 2025.