The first cargo flight, an operation from Canada, arrived to the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone/ Air Cargo Hub on Wednesday, 22 May 2024. The arrival marks the start of the air cargo operations of the Punta Cana logistics center, a joint effort of DP World Dominicana and the Puntacana Group, owner of the Punta Cana International Airport. The new multimodal platform for the handling of land, sea and air cargo has been in operation since October 2023.
The freighter, an Air Canada Cargo Boeing 767F, with capacity to transport 50 tons, will be making the Toronto-Mexico-Ecuador-Punta Cana route, with a weekly frequency. So far, it is reported the air freighter is transporting fruits, vegetables and medical devices.
“The arrival of this cargo ship and the start-up of the air operations of this logistics center contribute significantly to increasing the competitiveness and connectivity of the country, aligned with the government’s objective to turn the nation into the most important logistics hub in the Americas,” said Manuel Martínez, CEO of DP World.
Martínez said that thanks to the operational proximity to the cargo terminal of the Punta Cana International Airport and the capacity of the logistics center facilities, cost-effective solutions are offered to clients with cargo from Latin America that are interested in reaching destinations in North America, Europe and the Middle East.
Frank Elías Rainieri, president and CEO of Grupo Puntacana, adds in a company press release: “This is a milestone of utmost importance for the logistics center, with which we continue to strengthen our synergy and strategic alliance with DP World Dominicana and Air Canada Cargo to promote the economic and social progress of the Dominican Republic”.
In 2022, DP World and Punta Cana Free Trade Zone signed an alliance for the development of the logistics center that will benefit from DP World’s world-class experience and standards for the management of logistics operations and multimodal cargo, and the connectivity of the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). The Punta Cana International Airport is the airport in the Central American and Caribbean region with the largest number of airlines served. The alliance is built on the strengths of the companies in the logistics and airport sector.
In its first operational stage, the hub has been receiving land cargo from all over the Dominican Republic for export by air through Punta Cana International. Currently, between 60 and 70% of the cargo is made up of perishable products, mainly fruits and vegetables.
The center also handles machinery, automotive equipment and seafood, and specializes in expedited shipping of other merchandise. The press release says that the intention is to diversify into the pharmaceutical, technology and e-commerce sectors.
The multimodal platform could eventually create 10,000 new jobs. The Punta Cana Free Zone is an investment of around US$200 million.
PCFTZ encompasses a 546,617.45 square meter (m²) construction site, with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and warehouses for the logistics center and operations of the air cargo terminal to handle import, export and transshipment cargo for local and regional distribution.
In addition, the air cargo terminal will have up to 75,000 m² of construction and a total space of 265,518 m². The installation of the internal refrigerated warehouse will be up to 4,360 m² of construction.
Spaces have been allotted for the development of fintech companies. Wikipedia defines fintech companies as financial technology firms that use new technologies to compete with traditional financial methods in the delivery of financial services. The use of smartphones for mobile banking, investing, borrowing services,and cryptocurrency are examples of technologies designed to make financial services more accessible to the general public. Fintech companies consist of both startups and established financial institutions and technology companies trying to replace or enhance the usage of financial services provided by existing financial companies.
Futhermore, FL Technics, a global MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) service provider, is strategically located in the center of the Logistics Park of the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone to create a new aircraft maintenance hub in the region. The MRO has space to house 5 positions to perform different maintenance processes on narrow-body aircraft. There is planned expansion to a total of 12 bays.
DP World is the operator of the largest cargo port in the Dominican Republic, the Santo Domingo province-based Puerto Multimodal Caucedo.
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Diario Libre
Grupo Puntacana
DP World
FL Technics
Wikipedia
23 May 2024