Marine Development Under Tourism Law


News from Panama

The recently approved Law 80 on tourism in Panama has granted incentives to companies who develop maritime tourism infrastructure.  I have reported on this before that it will be a boon to development, especially along coastal areas like Boca Chica.  Considering that it can take years to get approval for a marina project here in […]

November 21, 2012

Panama’s Fiscal Deficit


News from Panama

First let’s put the deficit spending here in Panama in perspective. Reported by Don Winner of the Panama Guide. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, headed by Corinne Deléchat, visited Panama between November 6-16 to conduct the country’s annual Article IV consultation.1 At the end of the discussions, Ms. Deléchat issued the following statement in […]

November 21, 2012

More on where to put your money in Panama


News from Panama

And where not to put it….. We noted several weeks ago that the financial position of Financial Pacific has come under investigation.  While not huge by banking standards, they do have around $120 million in asset base and their advertising suggests that they are growing.  At first they had a shortfall of around $7 million […]

November 14, 2012

New Tourism Law in Panama


News from Panama

One of the prettiest Islands off shore here in Chirqui is Coiba.  The problem is that no one exploits it.  The government needs to open this park island up for public private development.  Perhaps with the new law here will be incentives to do this and other areas here in Chiriqui. The Panamanian National Assembly […]

November 7, 2012

French Consortium Wins Canal Over Bridge Tender


News from Panama

With the widening of the Panama Canal to access the new larger vessels that intend on transiting Panama comes the need for new taller bridges that will allow the wider and taller ships to pass under them. Vinci Construction Grand Projets was awarded the construction of the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal for $366 […]

October 31, 2012

The Business of Shares Custody


News from Panama

So you own a Panamanian Corporation and have bearer shares issued in your name sitting in your safe and you are off the grid, so you think.  The new law that will be implemented, not if but when, will require custodial care and registration of your shares with the government. The immobilization of bearer shares […]

October 23, 2012

Ecotourism in Darien


News from Panama

The largest and wildest of the Panamanian provinces holds promise for the development of ecotourism and attracting investor interest.  Located on the Panama and Colombian border there are places where it has  the most impenetrable jungles in Panama.  You can get bitten, stung and even eaten by a big jaguar out there if you are […]

October 23, 2012