Panama’s Colon Free Port system has processed approximately 20 million dollars in commercial transactions during the first ten months of 2025. The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) released the data this week, revealing the special economic zone’s sustained activity leading into the final quarter of the year.
From January through October, the platform registered 180,878 individual transactions. A full 90 percent of these purchases were made by national buyers, with tourists accounting for the remaining 10 percent. This breakdown indicates a strong foundation in the domestic market alongside growing potential within the tourism sector. The figures show a slight decrease from the previous year’s total of 213,783 transactions, which reached a value of 24.9 million dollars.
Economic and Social Impact Detailed in New Census
Officials presented these findings during the first session of the recently reconvened Advisory Board for the Special Colon Free Port System. MICI Minister Julio Moltó unveiled the results of the First Business Census, which details the regime’s social and economic impact on the Colón Province.
The registered companies generate significant employment for the local population, with a special focus on young people and women, directly benefiting more than 1,000 residents of the area, [Translated from Spanish]
said Carlos Manuel Gómez Rudy, the executive secretary of the Colon Free Port. The census report provided a detailed snapshot of the workforce. It showed the system primarily employs people between the ages of 18 and 35, most of whom are women. A substantial 80 percent of this workforce lives within Colón, ensuring the income generated remains within the community and stimulates local commerce and services.
Formalization and Transparency Efforts Advance
According to the data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Panama), 57 companies are currently registered as commercial investors in the Colon Free Port. These firms directly employ 342 people. The recent board session also covered institutional management advances, including the launch of the “I Am a Colon Free Port Company” seal campaign.
This initiative aims to help consumers easily identify authorized businesses. The goal is to build greater confidence in the market while strengthening formalization and transparency across the entire special regime. It represents a key step in standardizing operations and promoting legitimate commerce.
The meeting itself marked the formal reactivation of the Advisory Board. This governing body had not convened for several years prior to this session. Its function is to guide the governance and strategic decision-making for the Colon Free Port system. Its restart enables better coordination between institutions and provides a mechanism for tracking government commitments to the province.
Its launch allows us to coordinate efforts between institutions, monitor the Government’s commitments to the province, and consolidate joint work to promote the economic reactivation of Colon, [Translated from Spanish]
a ministry statement explained. The move signals a renewed focus on leveraging the free port as a catalyst for regional economic recovery. By bringing key stakeholders back to the table, the government hopes to streamline efforts and amplify the zone’s positive effects on the local community. The combination of strong transaction numbers, a documented social impact, and revived governance structures points toward a period of intensified development for the long-standing economic zone.