Panama’s Pivot: Canal Expansion as a Catalyst for Social Stimulus?


News from Panama

Maria Fabrizio and Zachary Cohen, Research Associates at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs write on how the expansion of the Panama Canal was a costly infrastructure project, that diverted funds away from social programs and thereby further entrenched Panama’s systemic inequalities.  Yet, it is precisely because it was a costly infrastructure project that the canal expansion […]

July 12, 2016

Panama Govt Suspends Barro Blanco Dam Under Indigenous Pressure


News from Panama

Panama’s government agreed to suspend the highly contested Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam Thursday after meeting with Indigenous leaders who have mobilized against the project over concerns that their rights have been violated and their land, culture and livelihoods are threatened. The agreement gives some hope to the 170,000 members of the Ngabe Bugle community who […]

July 5, 2016

Panama tries to shake off “Panama Papers” brand


News from Panama

David Brancaccio, Katie Long, and Justin Ho report for MarketPlace on the reality of bank accounts offshore companies and and money management here in Panama vs the perception of Panama being a haven for dirty cash. Panama has just opened a new, wider canal, but less cause for celebration is another feature of the Panama […]

July 5, 2016

Tender of Port Terminal for $53 million


News from Panama

The Panama Maritime Authority has announced a new tender for the concession of the design, construction and operation of a multipurpose terminal in the port of Aguadulce. A year after the first attempt, the Maritime Port Authority has once again called on companies interested in the concession to design, build and operate a multipurpose terminal […]

July 5, 2016

Panama Metro to Buy 70 Carriages


News from Panama

In order to meet growing demand 70 new carriages will be purchased which will take the current total from 20 to 25 trains of 5 carriages each. From a statement issued by the Panama Metro Secretariat: Every day of the year an average of 270 thousand passengers use the Metro facilities.  Statistics show a low number […]

July 5, 2016

Expanded Panama Canal a boon for fuel-hungry Japan


News from Panama

The recent expansion of the Panama Canal — which vastly reduces the time needed for U.S. shipments of liquefied petroleum gas to reach Japan — is expected to accelerate Japan’s efforts to wean itself off its reliance on Middle Eastern LPG for a more diversified, stable supply. On June 27, when the expanded canal went […]

July 5, 2016