Author: Sebastian Pieper

Panama City is preparing for a business gathering that promises to feel less like a traditional conference and more like a curated marketplace of ideas. Organizers of Penta Summit have announced their third edition, scheduled for August 13 and 14, 2026, at the City of Knowledge. The event aims to move beyond passive listening and into active, personalized participation for everyone who attends. This year, the summit introduces a dedicated mobile application designed to transform how attendees navigate the two-day experience. The Penta Summit App will allow registered participants to browse community profiles, identify professionals with overlapping interests, and schedule…

In a move that blends civic technology with everyday accountability, Panama City has launched a digital platform that lets residents see exactly where their tax money goes. The system uses QR codes placed on public projects throughout the capital, turning street corners and construction sites into windows into government spending. Mayer Mizrachi, the city’s mayor, announced the initiative as a first for any Panamanian institution. Called ‘AirTags Vigilantes’, the platform works through a simple scan. Citizens point their phones at QR codes attached to park benches, pedestrian bridges, sidewalk repairs, or even newly installed sewer covers. The code directs them…

The Panama National Aeronaval Service will soon receive four advanced surveillance drones from the United States. These are not ordinary drones. The K1000ULE models can stay airborne for days at a time. They recharge their batteries using solar power while flying. This changes everything for border security in the region. Panama sits at the crossroads of the Americas. Drug traffickers, human smugglers, and organized crime groups exploit its dense jungles and porous maritime borders. The new drones will target these threats directly. Luis De Gracia, the director of the National Aeronaval Service, told reporters that more drone acquisitions are coming…

The Panamanian government has triggered a decades-old contractual clause to take complete ownership of Petroterminal de Panama, a critical oil pipeline and storage operation. The move reshapes the country’s energy landscape. Officials confirmed the state will purchase the remaining 41% of shares it does not already own, using a purchase option embedded in the original 1977 partnership agreement. This transaction, once finalized, gives the Republic of Panama 100% control over the asset. Finance Minister Felipe Chapman framed the decision as a matter of national stewardship. ‘We are building a better future for the country. We do this with strict adherence…

Panama City, Panama – The financial picture for Panama’s Social Security Fund is a story of two halves. On one side, revenue from employer and worker contributions has climbed steadily. On the other, a growing mountain of unpaid bills, driven largely by public sector institutions, threatens the system’s long-term stability. The Social Security Fund Panama collected $2.245 billion in the first six months of 2026, a healthy increase of $145.7 million compared to the same period in 2025. That marks a growth rate of 6.9%. This injection of cash is critical for maintaining pensions, medical services, and subsidies for retirees…

The legal representative of a consulting firm at the center of a massive tax credit fraud investigation now faces detention. José Miguel Jurado Rovira surrendered voluntarily on Thursday before a judge ordered his provisional arrest on Friday. The case has already swept up 16 other suspects in what authorities describe as an elaborate network targeting Panama’s tax system. Judge Meylin Jaén imposed the detention measure during a hearing where prosecutors from the First Organized Crime Division formally charged Jurado Rovira with four crimes. These include money laundering, corruption of public officials, falsification of private documents, and organized criminal activity. The…

Tourists strolling along Panama City’s waterfront promenade this month will notice a significant shift in atmosphere. The Institutional Protection Service has launched a three-month security operation called Escudo Negro / Black Shield 2.0, placing hundreds of uniformed personnel in the city’s most popular recreational zones. The move comes after residents and business owners voiced growing concerns about safety in areas that draw both locals and international visitors. Director Armando King confirmed that roughly 500 officers will fan out across key locations including the Cinta Costeta, Casco Antiguo, Parque Urracá and Parque Omar. King stated that the operation responds directly to…

Walking through the aisles of a Panamanian supermarket, shoppers can now grab milk, bread, and a medical consultation all in one trip. Supermarkets Xtra, a major retail chain in Panama, has launched a health assistance program called Plan Xtra Salud that places telemedicine booths inside two of its locations. The move makes Xtra the first grocery retailer in the region to embed primary healthcare services directly within its stores. The timing of this initiative reflects a pressing national reality. According to a survey commissioned by IQVIA, Out-of-pocket health expenditure in Panama accounts for roughly 37 percent of total household health…

The numbers are stark. Eight out of every ten companies in Panama have let workers go during the first half of 2026. That puts the country at the top of a grim regional ranking, far ahead of neighbors like Chile and Peru. The data comes from the Salaries and Hiring 2026 study, conducted by the employment platform Konzerta, which surveyed human resources specialists across five Latin American nations. Panama’s 86% layoff rate towers over Chile’s 71%, Peru’s 68%, Ecuador’s 68%, and Argentina’s 67%. The figure also represents a ten-point jump from the same period in 2025, when 76% of firms…

The humpback whales return to Panama’s warm waters each year between July and October, drawing thousands of tourists eager for a glimpse of these majestic creatures. But this year, officials are sounding the alarm. With more boats than ever crowding the observation zones, the risk of collisions and disturbances has reached a critical point. The Panama Ministry of Environment has issued an urgent appeal for everyone on the water to follow the rules or face serious consequences. Captain Jorge Reyes has been leading whale-watching tours for over a decade. He told reporters that he has seen too many boats chase…