Panama Luxury Vacations owners in San Blas
To celebrate the opening of their newly opened service center in Panama City, a local agency is offering incentives for travel to Panama.  For selected vacations* purchased before April 12th, travelers will receive one free tour during their stay.

Filed under: Business on March 26th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Toyota Prado, a favorite in Panama
Likely a residual effect from the recent real estate boom in Panama and high consumer confidence, new car sales rose 30% in 2007. Incredibly, stats are currently on pace to increase an additional 30% in 2008. This is the story according to the Association of Auto Distributors [...]

Filed under: Business on March 26th, 2008 | No Comments »

According to the Contraloria General, Panama’s local stock market or “bolsa de valores” grew a whopping 223% in the month of January vs. last year at the same time.  The overall growth in 2007 was 9.6%.  The re-aquisition of the local bank, Banistmo Shares, in process of liquidation from the merger with banking giant HSBC [...]

Filed under: Business on March 26th, 2008 | No Comments »

You’re never too young (or old) to open shop
It all started when I made a random, spur of the moment decision (as I often do) to study abroad in Spain. But I didn’t want to be in some party town environ where I wouldn’t learn Spanish, so I unwittingly chose the Basque Country, San Sebastian [...]

Filed under: Business on March 20th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

 
Panama is an exporter of watermelon and other tropical fruits
A recent study performed by a group from Holland may have led Panamanian and Costa Rican officials to consider more joint efforts in expanding their respective agricultural sectors.  The study suggested that the two nations could ally to better utilize the respective assets of each nation [...]

Filed under: Business on March 18th, 2008 | No Comments »

Shipping companies will see more benefits from The Canal “short cut”
While much of the business world suffers as oil prices reach all-time highs, the tiny nation of Panama and its massive Canal continue to profit.  The ‘worlds greatest short cut’ saves international shippers hundreds of thousands of dollars by shortening shipping routes significantly.  For example, [...]

Filed under: Business on March 18th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

While the Panamanian government may spout propaganda about how easy it is to do business in Panama, the incentives, the tax breaks….blah, blah…those of us who actually DO business here know just how challenging it can be. Here’s my simplified list of the roadblocks, headaches and daily frustrations involved with doing biz in Panama.

Filed under: Business on March 18th, 2008 | No Comments »

Destiny Tower by Procasa
With the real estate boom in full force in Panama, it would seem that the creativity of developers is being pushed to the limits.  With hundreds of condo and land projects popping up all over the country, arriving at an original name has these real estate markers scouring their version of the [...]

Filed under: Business on March 10th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Panamanian President Martin Torrijos made an annoucement last Saturday that he plans to battle inflation worries with a package that may combine tax and tarrif cuts, low-interest mortgages and incentives to farmers.  Government subsidized fuel and electricity will also continue.With a presidential race in full swing and pending elections in March 2009, inflation and other economic issues [...]

Filed under: Business on March 8th, 2008 | No Comments »