Author: Michael Meuret

Business leaders from Costa Rica have formally expressed interest in using Panama’s new Puerto Armuelles multipurpose wharf for import and export operations. President José Raúl Mulino announced the development during his weekly press conference on January 15, 2026, revealing the project is now 65 percent complete and on schedule for a July 2027 operational launch.This international interest from a neighboring country adds significant momentum to the strategic port development in Panama’s western Barú district. The president noted the Costa Rican inquiry was made directly to the Panama Maritime Authority. It follows earlier expressions of interest from a major Japanese maritime…

Irma Hernández, the mayor of Panama’s San Miguelito District, has publicly accused the national government of using a garbage collection crisis for political gain. The controversy centers on a six-month contract extension requested by the current waste management firm, a request mediated by the nation’s top auditor. Hernández revealed the details this week, framing the intervention as a direct threat to municipal autonomy.The dispute involves Recicladora Vida y Salud, S.A. (Revisalud), the company responsible for residential waste collection in San Miguelito. Mayor Hernández stated that the company’s owner, Sandra Vélez, formally asked for a six-month addendum to its contract during…

Panama will host the Americas Maritime Convention (MCA) in May 2026, aiming to solidify its status as the Western Hemisphere’s premier maritime and logistics hub. The Panama Maritime Chamber announced the major international gathering this week, framing it as a strategic move to attract global investment and decision-makers to the isthmus.The event is scheduled for May 7-8 at the Megapolis Convention Center. Organizers unveiled plans under the theme “Connecting People, Business, and Sustainable Progress” during a launch ceremony attended by government authorities and industry leaders.A Strategic Platform for Global Maritime BusinessThe convention’s primary goal is to showcase Panama’s extensive maritime…

Panama’s Tocumen International Airport handled over 20.9 million passengers in 2025, setting a new annual record for the nation’s primary aviation hub. The figure represents a significant 9 percent increase from the 19.25 million passengers served in 2024, according to official airport statistics released this week.This milestone caps a year of expanded operations and growing international air traffic. The airport’s performance in December was particularly strong, with 1.9 million passengers traveling through its terminals. That monthly total marked a 13.5 percent jump compared to December 2024.Operational Growth and Daily TrafficBeyond the headline passenger number, operational data reveals a busier airport…

Panama’s Ministry of Agricultural Development forecasts a national rice harvest exceeding 10 million quintals for the upcoming agricultural year. The official estimates for the cycle running from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, signal a significant increase from the previous year’s production, aiming to strengthen national food security.This projected output would mark a notable rise from the 2024-2025 cycle, where production surpassed 9 million quintals and contributed over $249 million to the national economy. The new targets are based on planting and harvest projections compiled by the Ministry of Agricultural Development (Panama).”The projections for the 2025-2026 agricultural year indicate…

The World Bank forecasts Panama’s economy will grow 4.1 percent in 2026, a rate that significantly outpaces the projected regional average. The international financial institution released its latest global economic outlook this week, highlighting Panama’s resilience amid broader Latin American challenges.This expansion will be driven primarily by the country’s robust service sectors, including finance, business, and logistics. Panama and neighboring Costa Rica benefit from a heavy reliance on service exports, a segment largely insulated from global tariff tensions and trade disputes. The report also notes that Foreign Direct Investment will continue playing a crucial role in financing the nation’s external…

Panama must navigate its growing economic ties with China with extreme caution to protect its sovereignty and strategic assets. That is the stark warning from Leland Lazarus, a former U.S. State Department official and expert on China-Latin America relations, who spoke to journalists in Panama City this week. Lazarus, who has Panamanian roots, argued that while trade diversification is positive, the relationship carries hidden dangers comparable to a “Trojan horse,” especially concerning the Panama Canal and critical infrastructure.He identified specific legal and geopolitical vulnerabilities stemming from Chinese corporate behavior and national laws. Lazarus pointed to port operations, major construction projects…

The Panama Maritime Authority has issued a fresh warning to vessels under its flag to avoid Ukrainian and Russian waters in the Black Sea. This urgent advisory follows a drone strike on a Panamanian-flagged tanker at the port of Chornomorsk, Ukraine, on January 13, 2026, which left one crew member injured.In an official statement, the maritime administration confirmed the attack occurred while the tanker was anchored. The injured crew member received immediate medical attention and remains in stable condition. This incident underscores the escalating dangers for commercial shipping in a region still gripped by conflict.The authority is now reiterating its…

The mayor of Arraijan is blocking a critical permit needed by the Panama Canal Authority to repair the only access road to the Cocoli Locks. Mayor Stefany Peñalba’s administration has not formally responded to the permit request filed in August 2025, stalling a project the Canal Authority calls vital for operational safety. This impasse reached a new level on Tuesday, January 13, when Peñalba missed her second consecutive Municipal Council session. Canal Authority representatives attended that meeting to reiterate their urgent concerns about the deteriorating Bruja-Cocoli road. They warned the council that the road’s current condition poses a direct risk…

A senior Panama health official has provided a detailed breakdown of the country’s medical training process, clarifying common public confusion while issuing a stark warning about a growing oversupply of general practitioners. Paulino Vigil De Gracia, the national director of Teaching and Research for the Caja de Seguro Social (CSS), explained the distinct stages from student to specialist in an exclusive interview. He simultaneously cautioned that the system is producing more doctors than it can effectively absorb, creating bottlenecks and employment challenges.The clarification comes amid ongoing public debate about healthcare quality, hospital overcrowding, and the roles of different medical professionals…