Author: Michael Meuret

Panama’s insurance industry reported over $2.1 billion in written premiums for the 2025 fiscal year. Official data released this week shows significant growth across all major metrics, signaling robust market health and expanded coverage nationwide.The Superintendency of Insurance and Reinsurance of Panama confirmed the figures. They represent a 12.8 percent annual increase from the $1.867 billion recorded in 2024. A total of 22 active insurers in the national market supported this expansion.Superintendent Luis Enrique Bandera presented the annual report, emphasizing the sector’s critical role. He connected its strong performance directly to broader economic stability and support for productive activity throughout…

Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha stated this week that the United States could evaluate Panama for inclusion in its Visa Waiver Program. The announcement followed a high-level meeting between Martínez-Acha and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday, January 13. This potential development marks a significant step in bilateral relations and could ease travel for Panamanian citizens to the United States.Martínez-Acha clarified in an interview with the program Cuarto Poder that the discussion centered on a future possibility for analysis, not a finalized decision. The diplomatic dialogue lasted approximately 45 minutes and covered a broad agenda including…

For over a decade, the owners of Villa F&B have called the Bocas del Toro archipelago home. They describe the Panamanian province not just as a business location but as a refuge, a sanctuary for those seeking a life built on respect for nature and community. Their ten-year observation period has coincided with a profound regional evolution, watching the area grow from a backpacker secret into a sophisticated hub for eco-tourism and long-term expatriate living.  Villa F & B’s strategic position is fundamental to its identity. Nestled within a lush green setting, it sits at the convergence of tropical rainforest…

Residents in Panama’s Herrera and Los Santos provinces have now endured nearly eight months without being able to drink water from their taps. The national water authority, the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan), suspended operations at key water purification plant facilities last May following severe rains that contaminated the La Villa and Estibaná rivers. While treatment has resumed under strict controls, the water distributed to homes still lacks official certification for human consumption.This prolonged public health advisory has forced a population of thousands to rely entirely on bottled water and water delivery trucks for their daily needs. Authorities…

Panama’s Ministry of Health has issued a public alert over a severe shortage in the national blood supply. Health officials confirmed this week that reserves have fallen below a critical 40 percent threshold, jeopardizing emergency medical care across the country. The crisis is most acute for universal O negative blood, a type essential for trauma cases.Yelkis Gill, the General Director of Public Health for the Ministry of Health (Panama), stated the low reserves directly compromise the healthcare system’s ability to respond to accidents, urgent surgeries, and unforeseen complications. The warning comes ahead of holidays and mass events, periods historically linked…

The Colón Free Trade Zone, the second largest free trade zone in the world, closed 2025 with a significant year-end rebound. This recovery followed a difficult first nine months defined by global trade tensions and high tariffs. Official year-end data shows total commercial movement reached $27.9 billion, an 11.9 percent increase over 2024 figures.This positive final result masked a year of sharp contrasts for the Panamanian trade hub. Activity through September had recorded an 8.2 percent cumulative drop, with transactions totaling $17.1 billion. The dramatic fourth-quarter surge, driven by a spike in reexports, ultimately reversed the earlier negative trend and…

Panama City’s historic Casco Antiguo district hosted the annual Festival La Calle de los Sombreros this weekend. The event drew thousands of residents and tourists to celebrate local culture and the start of the summer season. Organized by the Mayor’s Office of Panama, the festival transformed the iconic Casco Antiguo, Panama into a lively pedestrian corridor. Attendees enjoyed music, food, and crafts while organizers distributed 1,500 traditional Panamanian hats to the public. A Cultural Reactivation in the Historic Center This year’s festival served a dual purpose. It celebrated Panamanian heritage while formally reactivating the “Calle de los Sombreros” urban intervention.…

The Panamanian Ministry of Culture has launched a new artisan marketplace to harness the economic power of one of the country’s largest folkloric events. Officials unveiled the plan for a dedicated “Artisan Walkway” in Las Tablas this week, aiming to transform the annual Thousand Polleras Parade into a stronger engine for regional commerce and cultural promotion.This strategic initiative seeks to capitalize on the thousands of visitors who travel to Los Santos Province each year for the iconic festival. The walkway will provide a centralized venue for artisans from across Panama to display and sell handmade goods directly to attendees. By…

Panama has lost its position as the leading destination for foreign investment in Central America and the Caribbean. The country now trails the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, which are attracting billions in new capital for manufacturing, renewable energy, and tourism projects. This shift, confirmed by 2025 financial data, signals a major reconfiguration of the region’s economic landscape as nations compete for a share of global capital.Before the pandemic, Panama consistently led the region in attracting Foreign Direct Investment. It drew $4.75 billion in 2018 and another $3.89 billion in 2019. The country’s post-pandemic recovery, however, has been marked by…

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino is confronting intense scrutiny over a series of judicial decisions that critics argue show a pattern of political interference. Multiple high-profile corruption and money laundering cases involving political allies have been dismissed or overturned since he took office in July 2024. Legal analysts and opposition figures claim these actions represent a systemic erosion of judicial independence in favor of executive power.The controversy spans several distinct cases, each involving individuals connected to Mulino’s administration or inner circle. They include the dismissal of a case against the brother of his foreign minister, the absolution of his own…