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Will the Fed's rate hike raise mortgage rates in Panama? Yes, most likely, but not overnight. On September 16, 2026, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage points to a range of 3.75% to 4.00%, its first increase since July 2023. Because Panama uses the U.S. dollar, l...
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Why did Cox choose Panama for its Americas headquarters? The Spanish water and energy company announced on September 16, 2026 that Panama will host its new regional headquarters for the Americas. From here, Cox will coordinate an investment plan of more than $7 billion in water and energy projec...
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When will Panama leave the EU tax blacklist? If France is right, in October. In an interview with La Estrella de Panama published on September 17, 2026, French trade minister Nicolas Forissier said a final EU decision on removing Panama should come in early to mid October, and that France would th...
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Hiring an intern in Panama now has a very clear cost: B/.450 per month, plus an insurance policy. For companies, the arrangement is notably different from a traditional employment contract. There are no social security contributions, statutory benefits or payroll deductions, and the monthly paym...
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Is medical insurance for tourists in Panama really free now? Yes, within limits. On September 10, 2026, Panama launched the Seguro al Turista, a state-funded policy that covers foreign visitors and Panamanians living abroad for their first 10 days in the country. It costs the traveler nothing, requi...
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Article written: September 12, 2026 What is the $500 million loan Panama just received? On Friday, September 11, 2026, CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, formalized a $500 million credit facility with the state-owned Banco Nacional de Panamá (Banconal). Half th...
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How fast is Panama's economy actually growing in 2026? Through June, the Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE) was up 5.4% on an accumulated basis. In the month of June by itself, activity rose 8.2%. Over the same period, inflation sat at 1.4%. Finance Minister Felipe Chapman presented...
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How much did Panama export in the first seven months of 2026? B/.913.1 million. That is the highest January to July export total Panama has recorded, and it is B/.142.5 million more than the country exported over the same seven months of 2025. The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) pu...
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Will longer nightlife hours in Panama City actually bring more tourists? Almost certainly not on their own. Nobody books an international flight because a bar in Casco Antiguo closes at 4:00 a.m. rather than 3:00 a.m. What extended hours can plausibly do is capture more spending from visitors...
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How much is Tocumen International Airport spending on its next expansion? $306.75 million, split between two separate projects: a $208.75 million extension of Terminal 2 called the Muelle Sur (South Pier), and a $98 million overhaul of the airfield itself. Together they would take Tocumen to ...
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What tax exemptions does Panama's new tourism incentive bill offer, and who qualifies? The Cabinet Council approved Proyecto de Ley 31-26 on August 25, 2026, creating a single legal regime of tax incentives for tourism investment. New tourist lodging projects in the Panamanian Caribbean would...
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Panama's mortgage reference rate may sound like a technical banking figure, but for homeowners with certain preferential mortgages, changes in the rate can affect what they pay. The Superintendency of Banks of Panama confirmed a 6.50% annual reference rate for both the first and second quarters...
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