Panama Blog
Panama Sets Indefinite Zero Export Quota for Threatened Sharks and Rays Under CITES
Panama's Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) has established an indefinite zero quota for the commercial export of shark and ray species listed under CITES, effective January 1, 2026. The measure blocks international commercial exports of th...
Panama Targets Conference Tourism in 2026 – What 37 Confirmed Events Could Mean for Hotels, Restaurants, and Local Services
Panama is positioning itself more aggressively in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) segment in 2026, with officials pointing to a growing pipeline of international congresses and conventions designed to increase vi...
Panama Opens Its First Dedicated Medical Cannabis Pharmacy – What It Means for Patients and Public Health
Panama is now home to its first pharmacy dedicated exclusively to medical cannabis products, marking a concrete step in the country’s rollout of regulated cannabis-based medication. Health authorities have emphasized that this is not a free...
World Bank Projects Panama Growth at 4.1% Through 2027, Outpacing Regional Peers
Panama is projected to remain one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America over the next two years, according to the latest outlook from the World Bank. The multilateral institution estimates that Panama closed 2025 with econ...
Panama’s Insurance Market Hits Record Growth – And Why Many Expats Find Coverage More Affordable Than Back Home
Panama's insurance industry closed 2025 with record results, according to figures reported by the Superintendencia de Seguros y Reaseguros and local media. Premiums surpassed roughly $2.1 billion, with year-over-year growth around 7%. Reports...
Panama Ends 2025 With Slight Deflation, While US Prices Rose
Panama closed 2025 with a small decline in consumer prices overall, even though December saw a modest month-to-month increase. According to Panama's Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.1% in Dece...
EU – Mercosur Trade Deal Signed: What It Could Mean for Panama as a Mercosur Associate
European Union and Mercosur leaders signed a long-negotiated free trade agreement in Asuncion, Paraguay on January 17, 2026, closing more than two decades of talks but still leaving a ratification process ahead in Europe and in Mercosur membe...
Regional Business Interest Grows Around the Puerto Armuelles Multipurpose Port
The development of the multipurpose port in Puerto Armuelles continues to take shape as one of the most significant logistics projects in western Panama. According to statements by President José Raúl Mulino, a group of Costa Rican business...
Panama Raises Net-Metering Limits as Solar Prices Open More Remote Living Options
Panama Raises Net-Metering Limits as Solar Prices Open More Remote Living Options Panama's public services regulator, ASEP, has issued a resolution increasing the maximum annual limits for electricity self-consumption from new, renewable, an...
Panama Tourism Revenue Tops $5.455B Through October 2025 as Visitor Arrivals Rise 7.1%
Panama's tourism authority (ATP) reported preliminary results showing continued growth in international travel to the country during the first ten months of 2025. Between January and October 2025, international arrivals increased 7....