Rafael Sabonge, Minister, Ministry of Public Works, Panama
He was born in Panama, civil engineer from the University of Texas at Austin, United States. He has a postgraduate degree in Metallic Structures from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and a Master's in Economic Analysis and Financial Economics from the Complutense University of Madrid.
He has held management positions in the real estate and construction sector, founding partner of Grupo Urbe, more than 15 years of experience.
Since July 2019, he has been the head of the MOP. In the first 90 days of it, he promoted the approval of the Regime for Public-Private Associations, regulated in December 2020.
Under this Regime, a program of 10 contracts is being structured and the first one has already been tendered, the maintenance project of the East Pan-American Highway, a contract for the rehabilitation and maintenance of 246km with a duration of 18 years. The second contract of this program, under the same modality for 206km of the Western Pan-American Highway, is in the prequalification process.
Under his management, he has developed a program of projects that include private financing, more than 1,600 km of roads and bridges, for US $1,160 million.
Sabonge is married; he is the father of two boys and all three are passionate about soccer.