Indications have been given that the tender will be held in October and will include the 77 duty free premises in Terminal 1 which are currently operated by Grupo Wisa and Attenza, of the Motta Group.

Among the duty free premises that Tocumen is planning to tender in October, are those which were concessioned to Grupo Wisa and Attenza, of the Motta Group, whose contracts expire in December 2017. Prensa.com reports that “…The bringing forward of this contract renewal is due to, according to Temístocles Rosas, Vice President of Administration and Finance at Tocumen SA, ‘the withdrawal of Wisa group’, which was recently included in the sanctioning ‘Clinton List.’ “

Rosas added: “…Wisa is giving back to us eight spaces. They are saying, this business will not continue. They have forty spaces representing various lines.  Some of them which are being given back are saying that they will not carry on trading.'”

“… This information contrasts with the version given by Wisa who denied the existence of such an agreement. And they claim that they have inventory up until December 2017, when the concession expires and when they intended to keep operate until. However … The manager of Tocumen S.A. said it had reached a mutual agreement with Wisa Group. ‘What has caused the tender to be brought forward one year before the scheduled date, is the situation which these companies are in. That is to say, whoever wins the tender in October, will occupy the space immediately and Tocumen will charge rent for the remaining months until the date of the concession comes into force’.”