Panama’s government has announced a major initiative to boost digital skills. The Ministry of Economy and Finance confirmed that up to 10,000 scholarships are now available for Panamanians. These grants provide access to Google’s training platform, which features over 700 specialized courses.
Economy and Finance Minister Felipe Chapman made the announcement in Panama City. The program covers key areas including artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and technology leadership. “We are opening doors to the global knowledge economy,” Chapman said. [Translated from Spanish]
“Panama has significant advantages to seize this opportunity. We have more than 100 multinational companies here and a services sector that keeps expanding. But we still face the challenge of increasing the number of professionals certified in advanced technology skills,” Chapman added. [Translated from Spanish]
The scholarship program is part of the broader Talent Up Panama initiative. This partnership brings together the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Google Cloud, and the Technological University of Panama.
Building a workforce for the knowledge economy
Talent Up Panama aims to create a labor force ready for modern economic demands. The program focuses on employment growth, innovation, and productive development across the country. Officials said the initiative responds directly to industry needs for certified tech professionals.
Participants can access Google Cloud training courses covering everything from beginner to advanced levels. The platform offers flexible learning schedules for working professionals and students alike.
The Panama Ministry of Economy and Finance will oversee the scholarship distribution process. Applications open immediately through the program’s official channels.
This announcement comes as Panama pushes to diversify its economy beyond traditional sectors like shipping and banking. Technology services represent a growing opportunity for the nation. Minister Chapman emphasized that certified professionals will find strong demand from the multinational companies already operating in Panama.
The government expects the first cohort of scholarship recipients to begin training within weeks. Program administrators will prioritize applicants from underserved regions. They also plan to track certification rates and employment outcomes for participants.
