What are Businessmen Expecting in 2020?


News from Panama

Taking measures to reactivate the productive sectors, make better use of public-private partnerships and boost tourism is part of what the private sector expects from the Panamanian government in the coming year. Six months before the Cortizo administration takes office, Panama‘s business sector is asking it to make the decisions the economy needs to be […]

December 30, 2019

Reflections on Panama’s Past


News from Panama

Last year marked the 30 anniversary of the US invasion of Panama.  A very controversial subject and a sad time indeed with all that happened just to get one man.  I read history for one reason that we all should do and that is to learn from our past mistakes so as not to repeat […]

December 30, 2019

Happy New Year and Welcome to a New Decade


News from Panama

Well, it is finally here!  I find myself feeling jubilant, happy, but also anxious about the new year, what will it bring? Having just turned 66, I have started the year/decade with a new milestone. I am another year older and I like to think, another year wiser.  Panama has been good to Susie and […]

December 30, 2019

Tips for Transiting the Panama Canal


News from Panama

Recruited at the last minute for a trip through the Canal, a sailor learns the ropes of how to pass through the locks. Diane Gorch writes for Cruising World I scrambled out of the ­dinghy onto Minh’s transom steps as a last-minute addition to the crew, the required fourth line handler needed for a transit […]

December 23, 2019

Illegal Fishing: Sanction for Panama


News from Panama

Since the country has not made enough efforts to eradicate illegal fishing, the European Union sanctioned it with a yellow card, a warning that precedes the red card, which if applied would prohibit the entry of Panamanian fishery products into Europe. After the corresponding audits were carried out, the sanction to Panama dated December 16, […]

December 23, 2019

Central America Purchases More Chilean Wine


News from Panama

In the first six months of 2019, Central American countries imported $38 million in wine, and purchases from Chilean companies increased by 11% over the same period in 2018. Regional Business Upwards Between the first half of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the value of wine imports into Central America registered a 2% […]

December 23, 2019

Minimum Wage Increase = Unemployment and Informality


News from Panama

The US showed us as an example of how this can be a problem. The Panamanian business sector believes that increasing the minimum wage under current conditions will generate more unemployment and increase informality in the labor market. With the possibility of an increase in the minimum wage next year, the National Council of Private Enterprise […]

December 23, 2019

Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Maintains Panama Insurance Market Outlook at Stable


News from Panama

AM Best has maintained a stable market segment outlook on Panama’s insurance industry, citing sound capitalization among the country’s carriers, their profitable underwriting strategies and improving risk management practices. Panama remains a consistent growth driver for Central America’s overall insurance market, and in 2018, the country’s insurance market expanded by 3.9%, slightly outpacing gross domestic […]

December 23, 2019