Author: michaelm

Geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East is triggering a significant westward redirection of global investment capital. As traditional hubs face heightened risk, Panama is emerging as a primary beneficiary, attracting wealth and talent seeking stability. This shift, accelerating through early 2026, is reshaping global capital flows and positioning the Central American nation as a premier safe haven. Analysis from firms like Allianz Economic Research indicates the conflict has moved beyond a regional crisis to become a systemic shock. The constant threat to maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the potential for oil prices to surge past $100 a…

The Public Services Authority (ASEP) has formally asked Panama’s consumer protection agency to investigate the country’s two major telecommunications companies. The request, issued on Friday, March 6, cites recurring price increases for internet, mobile, and television services that have caused widespread concern among subscribers.ASEP officials stated that both TIGO and Cable & Wireless Panamá have implemented repeated price hikes over recent years. These adjustments have affected residential internet, postpaid mobile plans, fixed telephony, and paid television packages. The regulator’s move signals escalating governmental scrutiny over pricing practices in a critical utility sector.Regulatory Context of Telecommunications in PanamaPanama’s telecommunications market operates…

Chile has become the first nation in the Americas to receive official verification for eliminating leprosy. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization confirmed the milestone this week. Panama is now advancing toward the same goal, reporting only five new cases in 2025.International elimination criteria require a country to report zero new indigenous cases for at least three consecutive years after interrupting transmission for five years. Chile has not recorded a locally transmitted case since 1993. The country maintained leprosy as a notifiable disease and ensured universal access to treatment, diagnosing 47 imported cases between 2012…

The National Railway Secretariat of Panama has begun accepting job applications for the massive Panama-David-Border railway project. The government agency announced the open call for technical, administrative, and engineering professionals this week as the landmark infrastructure initiative moves forward.This recruitment drive represents a concrete step in developing a modern rail line intended to span approximately 475 kilometers across the country. The project aims to connect Panama City to the border with Costa Rica at Paso Canoas, featuring up to 14 passenger stations.Seeking Talent for a National TransformationProspective candidates can submit their updated resumes to the official email address empleo.ferrocarril@presidencia.gob.pa. The…

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino traveled to Miami, Florida on Friday to participate in a high-level regional summit convened by United States President Donald Trump. The meeting, dubbed the “Americas Shield” summit, gathered twelve Western Hemisphere leaders at the Trump National Doral golf resort on Saturday, March 6, 2026. The event aims to strengthen regional security alliances and address shared challenges, with Panama’s strategic role as custodian of the Panama Canal placing it at the center of discussions.The invitation list reflects a specific geopolitical alignment, favoring leaders whose ideological positions are seen as closely aligned with Washington’s current foreign policy…

Panama’s tax revenue missed its 2025 budget target by a significant margin, according to a preliminary government report. The General Directorate of Revenue (DGI) stated that collections reached $6.257 billion, falling $1.797 billion short of the $8.055 billion goal.Despite the substantial gap, the total collected still represented a 13.6 percent increase compared to 2024. Tax income made up roughly 60 percent of the state’s total current revenues for the year, which also finished below projections with a cumulative deficit of $2.684 billion.”The set of figures does not configure a scenario of a tax crisis, but it does reflect an economy…

A Panamanian legislative committee approved a bill this week that would require fast food restaurants to include bottled water as a free option in their combo meals. The proposal, which now advances to the full National Assembly of Panama for further debate, aims to promote healthier consumer choices and reduce sugary drink consumption. Lawmakers behind the initiative argue it represents a necessary step to combat rising rates of diet-related chronic diseases.The bill, designated as Proposal 498, received a favorable vote in its first debate before the National Assembly’s Commission on Work and Health. Its principal proponent is Congressman Ernesto Cedeño…

A state-appointed expert has testified that a major historic restoration project in Panama City incurred a “substantial” cost overrun. The testimony came during the second day of a high-profile corruption trial linked to the sprawling Operation Car Wash (Odebrecht case) scandal. The trial is examining irregularities in the contract for the renovation of the Casco Antiguo, Panama historic district.Aristides Hernández, the third witness presented by the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, appeared before the court on Tuesday afternoon. He confirmed the economic analysis underpinning the prosecution’s case. Hernández detailed precisely how contractual modifications, known as addendums, inflated the final price tag…

Economists and business leaders in Panama warn that escalating military conflict in the Middle East will drive up global trade costs and fuel inflation locally. The direct impact is expected through sharp increases in fuel prices, shipping freight rates, and the cost of imported goods, officials stated this week. Panama’s high dependence on imports makes its economy particularly vulnerable to these international supply chain shocks.The warning follows a significant spike in global oil prices after renewed hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Market analysts project that sustained conflict could push oil above $100 per barrel, disrupting logistics and…

The 2026 academic year in Panama has started with a contentious national debate. Multiple civil rights organizations have filed formal complaints with the Ministry of Education, alleging several schools are conditioning the enrollment of Afro-Panamanian students on changes to their natural hair.Activists report at least four documented cases across three schools where students or their parents faced these demands. They argue the internal school regulations enforcing these rules are arbitrary and lack any legal foundation, directly contradicting national anti-discrimination resolutions.”They are told that, if they do not make the changes demanded by the internal hair regulations, they cannot enroll or…