Coverage of Panama’s corporate world, markets, startups, and trade developments. We provide news, analysis, and practical insights for business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Panama celebrated Afro-Antillean heritage with a food and culture festival at Mi Pueblito Afroantillano, drawing hundreds of visitors and more than 80 entrepreneurs. The event highlighted traditional dishes, music, fashion and new business ideas rooted in Caribbean identity.
Gambling in Panama has long been part of daily culture, from lottery kiosks to football bets and casino nights. Now smartphones are pushing that habit online, changing how people play without changing the social nature of the pastime.
Maintenance work is adding to congestion at the Panama Canal, increasing delays and pushing freight costs higher. The bottleneck has wider implications for Panama’s economy and global shipping routes.
Congestion fears are rising ahead of June maintenance on the Panama Canal locks, a period that could slow transits through the country’s main trade artery. The timing matters for Panama’s logistics sector and for global shippers dependent on the canal.
Amador was meant to become a premier tourism zone, but decades of unfinished works, disputed concessions and weak enforcement have left it trapped in legal and financial limbo. The case has become a stark example of Panama’s struggle to manage strategic public land.
Copa Airlines’ fleet expansion has pushed Tocumen and Panama’s aviation regulator to speed up plans for a third runway and a redesigned airspace system. The airport’s growth strategy now hinges on land acquisition, road access and major infrastructure investment.
Ensa has scheduled preventive electrical maintenance from May 18 to 23, with temporary outages expected in selected sectors. Customers can check whether their NAC is affected through the utility’s interruptions page.
Grupo SUCASA has launched Baula Residences in Amador, a premium residential project built around wellness, art and sustainability. The development highlights the continued push for high-end housing in Panama City’s waterfront districts.
Panama’s bunker sales rose 6% year on year in April, led by stronger VLSFO and LSMGO demand. The increase reflects Panama’s continuing role as a key fuel hub for shipping tied to the Canal.
Washington’s new sanctions on Cuba’s GAESA put Panama back in the spotlight because two GAESA-linked companies are registered here. The move raises fresh compliance risks for local legal and financial services tied to offshore corporate structures.
Ocean Reef Islands remains one of Panama City’s most exclusive addresses, but its quiet appearance highlights the difference between luxury branding and market reality. The development offers a window into Panama’s high-end real estate trends and coastal urban growth.
A personal finance column links everyday budgeting to Panama’s rising public debt, arguing that savings, discipline and purposeful borrowing are key to stability. It frames financial control as the real path to living better, for families and for the country.
Panama’s business chamber backed government efforts to improve fiscal reputation but urged balance in a bill on economic substance and tax competitiveness. The debate is tied to Panama’s standing with international watchdogs and its appeal to investors.
Ocean Reef Islands has become one of Panama City’s most exclusive addresses, but opaque property data makes it difficult to gauge who lives there and how the market really performs. The case highlights a broader transparency issue in Panama’s luxury real-estate sector.
Panama will seek to modernize its merchant marine law with faster ship registration, streamlined mortgage filings, and stricter selection of vessels. The reform aims to protect the country’s competitiveness in global shipping while tightening compliance controls.
Panama and Costa Rica have renewed their trade dispute over agricultural restrictions, with both governments defending their sanitary measures and trade rights. The clash has implications for regional commerce and a WTO case still in progress.
Panama City has advanced a plan to allow certain restaurants and commercial venues to stay open until 2:00 a.m. during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The proposal now heads to the City Council and includes permit fees, QR-code verification and noise-control rules.
Panama’s Chamber of Commerce backed economic substance reforms but warned against rules that could add costs, duplication, or legal uncertainty. The group called for a balanced bill that protects competitiveness while improving fiscal credibility.
Panama is advancing tax reforms tied to economic substance rules, but the bigger test is whether the country can also remove domestic barriers to real business activity. The outcome could shape investment, competitiveness, and Panama’s international standing.
Chicken has become Panama’s leading household protein as families respond to higher beef prices and steady poultry availability. Per capita consumption reached 115 pounds in 2025, while domestic production also continued to grow.