Panama’s economic pitch to Wall Street produced tangible results this week, as five of the world’s largest banks requested direct meetings with the country’s delegation in New York. The international banking interest signals growing confidence in Panama’s fiscal trajectory and investment climate, officials said.
Finance Minister Felipe Chapman confirmed that Citi, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and BBVA each convened sessions with Panamanian representatives during the United Nations General Assembly week. The meetings formed part of a five-day agenda exceeding 15 separate engagements with financial institutions, investment firms, and credit rating agencies.
Wall Street’s International Banking Interest Surges
Chapman described the reception in direct terms after concluding the mission. “Five of the largest banks in the world requested meetings: Citi, JP Morgan, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, BBVA. Each with a substantial group of investors, very interested in learning more about Panama,” he stated [Translated from Spanish].
The minister accompanied President José Raúl Mulino to New York for the UN General Assembly session, but the financial agenda operated independently and intensively. Meetings included a working session with Citi’s global leadership team, discussions with Morgan Stanley alongside international investment firms, and engagement with JPMorgan’s Latin America team.
Bank of America convened Chapman with its president and Latin America director, while BBVA brought together bank executives and investment fund representatives. The delegation also met with Blackstone, one of the world’s largest investment firms, in a session that included President Mulino.
Investor Sentiment Shifts Toward Panama
During the meetings, investors repeatedly referenced Panama’s recent economic performance and commitment to fiscal discipline. Chapman relayed that some market participants now describe Panama as “the darling of the American Continent,” a phrase he said captures the country’s emerging status among regional investment destinations [Translated from Spanish].
The data supports the enthusiasm. Panama’s gross domestic product grew 4.4 percent during 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census. The second quarter of 2026 showed even stronger momentum, with GDP expanding 6.4 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.
“Impressed by what has been achieved in just over two years, because Panama has fulfilled what it promised,” Chapman said, summarizing investor feedback [Translated from Spanish]. The minister emphasized that the international banking interest must now convert into concrete commitments.
From Interest to Investment and Jobs
Chapman framed the New York meetings as a precursor to tangible economic benefits for Panamanians. “Those investments can generate employment, additional well-paying jobs that put money in the pockets of Panamanians to improve their quality of life,” he said [Translated from Spanish].
The agenda also included a working lunch with Americas Society Council of the Americas, a hemispheric dialogue platform connecting governments with private sector institutions. Meetings with credit rating agencies rounded out the schedule, continuing the finance ministry’s periodic consultations with firms that assess sovereign debt capacity.
Chapman extended an open invitation to all investors to visit Panama and evaluate opportunities directly. “I invited everyone to visit the country, so that their interest becomes reality,” he said, adding that the world’s largest investors want to come to Panama [Translated from Spanish].
The New York mission represents a key concentrated displays of international banking interest in Panama since the country’s post-pandemic recovery began. Whether that interest translates into new capital flows will depend on Panama’s ability to maintain fiscal credibility and convert investor enthusiasm into signed commitments.