The National Bank of Panama (BNP) has announced a budget of US$350 million for this year, intended for credits that will benefit the different productive sectors of the country, with a particular emphasis on the agricultural sector. The information was revealed by the General Manager of the BNP, Javier Carrizo, during the Agricultural Encounters program, an initiative that seeks to promote the exchange of knowledge through talks and success stories on sustainable and economically viable agricultural projects.

During the event, Carrizo highlighted the importance of strengthening local production, especially in the meat industry, oriented to the creation of leaner and high quality meats, complying with rigorous hygiene and biosecurity standards.

“We are in one of the CAISA farms to learn about the opportunities offered by the industry, with a view to the production of leaner and higher quality meats, being sustainable and guaranteeing the highest hygiene and biosecurity standards,” said Carrizo.

The Bank also presented its income statement as of December 2024, where the agricultural credit portfolio reached US$714.1 million, which represents a significant increase of US$96.7 million compared to the US$617.4 million reported in December 2023, which in percentage terms showed a growth of 15.7%.

In 2024, the BNP disbursed a total of US$112.4 million in agricultural loans to producers in the central region of the country, which includes the provinces of Coclé, Herrera, Los Santos and Veraguas.

As of December 2024, the agricultural portfolio in this area reached US$237.4 million, an increase of 15.9% compared to the US$204.8 million recorded in 2023, which represents an absolute growth of US$32.6 million.