Coverage of Panama’s corporate world, markets, startups, and trade developments. We provide news, analysis, and practical insights for business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Panama hosted the World FZO congress, where global leaders called for free zones to evolve into integrated, sustainable industrial ecosystems. The event also produced a new Caribbean regional zones association and fresh focus on tourism-linked economic zones.
Costa Rica’s president says she will not attend June events in Panama, citing domestic priorities as trade tensions between the two countries flare again. The decision comes ahead of the OAS General Assembly and the bicentenary commemoration of the Congress of Panama.
The U.S. Treasury added a Panamanian company and two Panama-flagged tankers to its sanctions list, citing alleged ties to a pro-Hamas flotilla. The move draws fresh attention to Panama’s ship registry and corporate compliance controls.
Panama approved a $2 million transfer to the IMA to buy onions and Chiriquí beans from producers in Coclé, Los Santos and Chiriquí. The move is designed to support farmers and help stabilize supply of key staple foods.
Panama’s National Assembly approved a $9.6 million transfer to the Metro de Panamá for surveillance upgrades, rail maintenance and Villa Zaíta payments. The funds also support finishing work around the station and related road improvements in the capital’s north.
Panama municipalities are receiving long-awaited property tax funds after months of pressure on the MEF. The transfer should help finance local works, waste services and urban projects in major districts.
Panama will spend more than $6 million on tourism roads, Atlapa, Bocas del Toro trail upkeep and the Chitré Convention Center. The move underscores how transport, venues and natural attractions work together to support the country’s visitor economy.
Panama’s Assembly is refining the economic substance bill, with a key change moving the tax base from gross to net income at 15%. The debate now centers on how the law will affect businesses, compliance and Panama’s competitiveness.
The United States has imposed sanctions on alleged Sinaloa cartel figures and related companies, targeting the financial side of the criminal network. The move underscores how anti-cartel efforts increasingly focus on money laundering and business fronts.
Google unveiled a new “era of agents” at I/O 2026, introducing faster Gemini models, cloud-based assistants and AI tools for Search, Docs and YouTube. The push signals a major shift toward AI that not only answers questions but completes tasks.
Mango founder Isak Andic’s death in a Montserrat hiking accident has turned into a homicide investigation, with his son Jonathan now under judicial scrutiny. The case has put one of Spain’s most influential retail families and its succession fight back in the spotlight.
A Panama transshipment group will deploy BigBear.ai’s cargo security platform, highlighting the country’s push to modernize trade screening and logistics operations. The move could improve cargo visibility in one of Central America’s key shipping hubs.
Cabinet approved more than B/.6.3 million for ATP to carry out tourism works, maintain Atlapa, and cover several sector commitments across Panama. The funds will support infrastructure, convention centers, cultural projects, and cruise-related payments.
CAF has expressed interest in financing canal-linked port projects in Panama, including Isla Telfers and Corozal, as part of a $10 billion regional integration push through 2031. The move highlights Panama’s role in shifting global trade and regional logistics.
Panama City has awarded a $2.5 million contract to renovate Calle Estudiante in Santa Ana after a bid process that faced challenges and partial annulments. The project will upgrade sidewalks, lighting, crossings and greenery near the Instituto Nacional.
Panama’s strategic role in global trade is drawing renewed attention as U.S.-China rivalry deepens. The country faces mounting pressure to define a clear plan that protects sovereignty while managing foreign investment and influence.
Panama’s bunker sales fell by 13,000 metric tons in April 2026, with HSFO accounting for most of the decline. The move highlights how closely the country’s marine fuel market tracks shipping activity and canal-related trade.
Panama’s role as a global logistics hub has put it at the center of U.S.-China rivalry. The challenge now is turning that pressure into a clear national strategy that protects the canal and supports growth.
Panama is under growing pressure as U.S.-China rivalry deepens around the canal, ports, and investment. The key issue is whether the country can set a clearer strategy that protects its interests.
Jonathan Andic, Mango’s vice chairman and son of founder Isak Andic, was arrested in Spain and released on €1 million bail as a homicide probe into his father’s 2024 death advances. The case has put renewed scrutiny on one of Europe’s best-known fashion families.