Coverage of Panama’s corporate world, markets, startups, and trade developments. We provide news, analysis, and practical insights for business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Motorizados linked to PedidosYa in Panama are moving to Uber Eats and Indrive as a pay dispute continues to disrupt delivery service. The protest has hit thousands of businesses and forced many restaurants to suspend deliveries.
Panama’s Chamber of Commerce says new investment is needed to keep jobs stable and expand formal employment. The warning underscores the country’s challenge of turning economic growth into lasting work for more people.
Panama’s Chamber of Commerce says stronger investment is essential to sustain jobs as unemployment stands at 10.4% and informality remains widespread. The warning highlights pressure on the labor market and the need for more formal employment.
Panama’s Public Procurement Authority has restarted the tender for the Plaza 5 de Mayo renewal project after a bid challenge paused the process. The review now returns to disputed technical and pricing details in the Gana-Oti proposal.
Metro de Panamá extended its Line 2 maintenance contract with Alstom Panamá through June 30, 2026, after the previous deal expired at the end of 2025. The agreement covers trains, signaling and substations for up to $4.33 million.
Panama’s business chamber says the country needs more investment to create sustainable jobs, as unemployment stands at 10.4% and informality remains high. The warning underscores pressure on the labor market and the need for more formal employment.
Apede has criticized Panama’s decree regulating digital transport platforms, saying it could weaken competition, free enterprise and service efficiency. The business group argues the rules risk pushing the market back toward less open models.
Rising oil prices tied to Middle East tensions are increasing costs in Panama, with effects on transport, inflation, and trade. The pressure also reaches the Canal and the country’s investment outlook.
Panama’s business chamber is calling for stronger economic activity to address 10.4% unemployment and widespread informality. The group says investment, execution and job access are key to expanding formal work.
Panama’s traditional raspadura makers are facing growing competition from cheaper imported panela sold in supermarkets. Producers and lawmakers are weighing how to protect a rural craft that is part of the country’s agro-food heritage.
Panama’s new digital transport decree is drawing criticism over fears it could restrict competition and favor a small group of operators. President José Raúl Mulino says he will review the measure.
Davivienda is sharpening its mortgage strategy in Panama, aiming to offer home buyers more competitive financing options. The move highlights how lending terms continue to shape affordability in the country’s housing market.
Panama’s foreign direct investment plunged 63% in 2025, underscoring concerns about governance, inequality, and weak institutional performance. The drop raises fresh questions about whether the country can turn its strategic advantages into sustained growth.
Panama’s ITBI is back in the spotlight as real estate sector critics question how the 2% transfer tax is applied and who should pay it. The debate is also raising concerns about the effect of removing exemptions on a weak property market.
A 23-acre farmland parcel in Penonomé, Coclé, is being marketed after a $10,000 price cut. The property is positioned in Panama’s agricultural heartland and is being promoted to buyers interested in rural land.
Panama has resumed yellowfin tuna exports to the United States after 26 years, opening a new opportunity for the country’s fishing sector. The move could boost export earnings and strengthen Panama’s seafood trade.
Oil and gas tankers are crowding the Panama Canal as the Middle East war reshapes global energy routes. The surge highlights Panama’s role as a strategic shortcut for LNG and other fuel shipments.
Panama Canal delays of about two and a half days are fueling attention on a $4 million priority fee that lets some vessels jump the queue. The congestion underscores the canal’s outsized role in global shipping and the high value of faster passage.
Capac Expo Hábitat 2026 opened in Panama with more than 300 housing projects on display, highlighting the strength of the country’s real estate sector. The annual fair remains a major showcase for private development and construction activity.
Davivienda is strengthening its mortgage strategy in Panama, signaling a push to attract home buyers with more competitive financing. The move highlights the importance of housing credit in the country’s banking and real estate markets.