Panama: Air Transport Suspension Extended


News from Panama

Given the crisis generated by the covid-19 virus, the authorities decided to extend the suspension of international commercial air passenger transport frequencies until 23 May. The measure was announced by Resolution 053-DG-DJ-AAC, published in the edition of the Official Digital Journal on April 20, 2020. See full document. See “Tourism, Business and the New Commercial […]

April 22, 2020

Global heads through Panama Canal


News from Panama

Capt. Kostas Andreou of M/Y Global took the 220-foot (67m) shadow boat through the Panama Canal this week en route to the Philippines. The vessel has been sold and the new owner is in Hong Kong. “I’m heading to Tahiti for fueling and then to Subic Bay,” he wrote. Glad to see the crew and […]

April 21, 2020

Smithsonian expedition finds Panama’s biggest trees


News from Panama

A Smithsonian Institute scientific mission discovered some of the country’s largest trees in the Darien Forest while seeking to establish an Ancestral Forest Observatory In collaboration with international scientists, the Emberá communities of the Balsa River and the National Border Service (Seafront) The latest technology light aircraft capable of taking three-dimensional aerial photos were used […]

April 21, 2020

After missing U.S. bailouts, Carnival CEO remains loyal to Panama


News from Panama

Carnival Corp. is raising billions of dollars to weather the pandemic, and the near-total shutdown of its business—but it’s not giving up Panama. The world’s largest cruise company and its main competitors have long maintained headquarters in Miami but legal incorporation elsewhere, largely for tax reasons. That foreign allegiance backfired on the industry last month, […]

April 21, 2020

Coronavirus could spark 2nd Latin America ‘lost decade’ – IMF


News from Panama

Latin America’s ‘lost decade’ traditionally refers to the 1980s, when countries were forced to tightened their belts to meet debt payments. Could this happen again? The coronavirus pandemic may spark another “lost decade” in Latin America, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday, April 16. Alejandro Werner, the fund’s western hemisphere head, said the […]

April 21, 2020

Panama Canal suspends second draught restriction


News from Panama

The Panama Canal is suspending the second update to the maximum draught allowable at the neo-panamax locks, published 19 March. Recent rainfall in the Canal watershed has allowed the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to suspend the draught reduction announced in Advisory to Shipping A-09-2020, which was scheduled to become effective 17 April 2020. As a […]

April 21, 2020

IT Sector: Opportunities for Companies in the Region


News from Panama

Logistics, banking, tourism and education are some of the sectors in Panama that need to modernize their computer systems, which generates business opportunities for developers of technological solutions. According to a study prepared by the Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer), Panama’s ICT market exceeds $1.5 billion per year as a contribution to the Gross Domestic Product […]

April 21, 2020

IMF Executive Board Approves a US$515 Million Disbursement to Panama to address the COVID-19 Pandemic


News from Panama

pril 16, 2020 The IMF approved Panama’s request for emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) of about US$515 million to meet the urgent balance of payment needs stemming from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has significantly weakened Panama’s macroeconomic outlook for 2020 and opened a balance of payments gap […]

April 21, 2020