Agricultural Protectionism in Panama


News from Panama

So much for cheaper imported meat products. After having granted permits to import processed meats from 7 plants in Brazil, the government decided to reverse the decision and suspend the imports in order to show “solidarity” to domestic producers. The Panamanian Food Safety Authority “… taking into consideration denouncements from the productive sectors in the country, […]

November 8, 2016

Panama: Productive Sector Demands Judicial Independence


News from Panama

The union of private companies is promoting a reform that allows strengthening of the administration of justice and ensures the independence of judges and prosecutors. From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (CCIAP): JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION In recent days, public opinion has been shocked by various facts relating to investigations being […]

November 8, 2016

Panama: Mixed Development for $28 million


News from Panama

Looks like this will be joining Hospital Punta Pacifica in Panama City. Plans have been made to build a 12-story tower in Punta Pacifica with space for medical offices, shops, and offices, with a total construction area of ??52,000 square meters. The project sponsor is Sutherland Mortgage Corp., which submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) […]

November 8, 2016

Fewer Graduates, More Technicians


News from Panama

In Panama four out of ten companies failed to find the ideal candidates when they needed them. Data from Manpower reveals that worldwide the talent shortage is around 40%, in Colombia it is 50% and in Panama 36%. Monica Flores, president of the group for the region, said that “… ‘we have overvalued degrees and university titles, […]

November 8, 2016

Sea Stars Disappear from Beach in Panama


News from Panama

Blake Scott posted an article in the Huffington Post on an unusual happening in Bocas. In the islands of Bocas del Toro, Panama, there is a beach famous for its white sand and the thousands of sea stars that once gathered there. Visitors and locals call the place Starfish Beach. “The whole bottom,” according to […]

November 8, 2016

Richard Feinberg analyzes a Cuban economy in transition


News from Panama

The Miami Herald carried an article my Mimi Whitefield that discusses Richard Feinberg’s focus on Cuba’s economic reforms. Since the mid-1970s when he was a graduate student in international economics, Richard Feinberg, now a professor at the University of California San Diego, has been fascinated by the challenges of reforming centralized economies. He first focused […]

November 8, 2016

Panama Canal to reward ships with low emissions by 2017


News from Panama

Supply Chain Dive put out this article on the new reward system. Dive Brief: The Panama Canal will provide expedited transit to ships with low-emissions through tis new Environmental Premium Ranking system, set to begin Jan. 1, according to a recent press release. The new system would boost carrier’s ranking within the current rewards system, […]

November 8, 2016