The children of the Panama Canal


News from Panama

Built by the US over a 30-year period, the strategically located Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. On January 1, 2000, Panama regained sovereignty over it, 85 years after its inauguration. Prior to that, the area around the canal had been a US colony: some 1,400 square kilometres, nicknamed “La Zona”. Since its handover to […]

March 30, 2021

Panama: global champion for energy compacts


News from Panama

Over the past month, on February 2021, the United Nations (UN) placed Panama as an Energy Transition leader for enabling the Sustainable Development Goals into energy actions to transform this industry. This recognition is connected to the Energy Transition Agenda 2020-2030 which is a road map towards decarbonization, digitalization and democratization in the generation and […]

March 30, 2021

Panama: Economic Activity Still Down


News from Panama

In January of this year, the Monthly Index of Economic Activity reported a 15% year-on-year drop, which is similar to the behavior recorded from March to December 2020, a period in which the pandemic severely affected productive activities. This index contracted considerably, due to the effects of the Covid-19 health emergency. Among the economic sectors that were […]

March 30, 2021

Banana: Regional Sales Exceed $2 Billion


News from Panama

Between January and September 2020, banana exports amounted to $2,079 million, 11% more than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a rise that is explained by the behavior of sales of Honduran, Panamanian, Costa Rican and Guatemalan companies. Costa Rica and Guatemala, Main Exporters From January to September 2020 the main exporter […]

March 30, 2021

Panama goes back 17 years in number of visitors


News from Panama

The coronavirus (Covid-19) erased 17 years of progress for Panamanian tourism. According to the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), the most optimistic estimate is that this year a little over 1 million visitors will enter the country, numbers similar to those registered in 2004. If all the pieces of the […]

March 30, 2021

Did health concerns lead Panama to put 5G on hold?


News from Panama

Misbeliefs and conspiracy theories could be the main obstacles to 5G deployment in Panama, where launch plans are still on hold. “Criticisms of the adverse effects of new wireless technologies can have adverse effects by delaying their deployment or, in extreme cases, inciting damage to the telecommunications infrastructure deployed,” José Otero, VP for 5G Americas in Latin America, told […]

March 30, 2021

Dreams to Reopen Panama All-Inclusive in May


News from Panama

AMResorts’ Dreams Playa Bonita Panama all-inclusive resort has pushed back its reopening to May, Caribbean Journal has learned. The resort on Panama’s Pacific coast, the only AMResorts property in the country, will be welcoming back guests on May 15, 2021, according to Dreams’ Web site. Dreams Playa Bonita Panama has a total of 307 rooms set across […]

March 30, 2021

Panama holds negotiations to purchase more Covid-19 vaccines


News from Panama

Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre informed that the vaccine advisory team is holding talks on Thursday with several pharmaceutical companies to guarantee that the population is immunized against Covid-19.   Sucre stated that they met on Wednesday with the Russian company that developed the Sputnik V vaccine, and negotiations are underway with the laboratory that […]

March 30, 2021

Public Limited Companies: Penalties for Late Payments


News from Panama

In Panama, the General Revenue Directorate (DGI) announced that it will suspend corporations that for the term of three consecutive years or more, have not made the payment of the single tax. According to the General Revenue Directorate (DGI) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the authorities are currently updating the list of legal entities […]

March 22, 2021