Panama Investor Blog

Number of bad loans increases

2009-07-17T14:33:13-05:00

Looks like the local banks are starting to see significant defaults on loans although according to the Multibank, they are not at levels to cause alarm. You would think otherwise based on the statistical data over the last year. I...

Transformation of Panama

2009-07-17T12:21:30-05:00

Bob McMillan was the commissioner of the Panama Canal for the U.S. before its handover in 1999 to the Panamanians. Here he gives his opinion of what the recent election of Ricardo Martinelli means to the U.S. and Panama interests....

Residential building permits down 43% from last year

2009-07-17T09:42:39-05:00

LA Prensa reports that residential permits are way down while commercial permits have risen by 74% over the previous year. Wow! this is a huge increase at a time one would think they should be pulling back. They also report...

U.S Fed employees may consider living offshore

2009-07-15T21:43:25-05:00

An article appeared in last months Fedsmith.com website suggesting that U.S. Federal employees might consider living outside the U.S.. FedSmith.com is an information portal for sources of information impacting the U.S. federal community. They sight a number of reasons and...

Low bid, low ball? Financial strength of canal bid winner in question

2009-07-15T14:14:47-05:00

A La Prensa article headlines the potential profit the winning bid can make on the canal expansion project to be between 10-12% profit or about $300 million. While another article by stock analyst, S. McCoy, on a Spanish website that...

Which Way Panama & the OECD

2009-07-15T09:33:19-05:00

Bob Bauman, of Sovereign Society, reacts strongly to vice minister of finance De Lima's statements to La Prensa regarding buckling under pressure by the OECD for "tax compliance". July 14, 2009 Which Way Panama & the OECD? If you had...

Is North America over populated?

2009-07-13T13:37:16-05:00

One of the things I like about Panama is the relatively small population of a little over 3.3 million. This rather small population is one of the reasons you don't see such blatant poverty that can be seen throughout most...

Tax havens buck European property slump

2009-07-13T11:32:58-05:00

This is a short but, very important article that Panama should take advantage of. It tells us how countries who maintain their sovereignty and low tax codes fare much better than those that don't. We are seeing a similar trend...

Panama yields to pressure concerning its lax banking laws

2009-07-10T08:25:30-05:00

Although this is the headline from today's La Prensa, based on what is in the story and other sources I am not so sure they will have to give up too much. Sounds more to me like placating rather than...

What's the real scoop on Honduras?

2009-07-10T07:58:23-05:00

Honduras has been in the news a lot the last two weeks and I am sorry to have heard so many come out against the so called coup that removed Zelaya from office. I can understand people reluctance to support...

Bid for lock construction comes within expectations

2009-07-09T10:05:38-05:00

The bids for the major portion of the canal expansion project have come in and apparently one of them is under the threshold established by the ACP. Many have been skeptical, myself included, on whether the bids could come in...

Campaign promises made in the inaugural address-Must read

2009-07-09T09:28:29-05:00

I encourage everyone living in Panama to read the new presidents first address to the nation. If you are considering living or investing here you should read it as well. In this speech Ricardo Martinelli lays forth what he expects...

Panama: Investors Bullish on Martinelli-LBC

2009-07-08T11:56:07-05:00

Latin Business Chronicle has a special report on the election of Ricardo Martinelli and the jest of the report is that he is business friendly and considered to be more right leaning than most of the Latin American leadership. Excerpts:...

Businessweek-Why Panama is the new Florida

2009-07-07T12:51:32-05:00

Although I don't agree at all with the title, I am very happy to see this positive article about people retiring to Panama. Great article! Excerpts from Businessweek: Panama's quality health care, low costs, and proximity to the states are...

Future looks bright for Panama-UK Telegraph

2009-07-07T12:43:26-05:00

This upbeat article from the Telegraph should help spur more interest in Panama as the rest of the world sinks further into economic morass. Pretty well done. Excerpts: Panama is booming, in fact it has been booming for some time...

Number of registered companies increases

2009-07-07T12:23:58-05:00

Surprisingly the number of companies registered in Panama actually increased according to an article from La Prensa last week. The amount of money invested also increased significantly. Excerpts From LA Prensa: There were 761 more companies registered at the end...

Canal expansion bids expected this week

2009-07-07T12:17:50-05:00

Tomorrow is the big day that the bids will be opened for the first time. Although the ACP expects the bids to come in within budgetary allowances, many are not so sure. In any case, the suspense will be lifted...

OECD blacklist of Panama threatens corporate share disclosure

2009-07-07T12:08:03-05:00

The banking privacy issue continues to be a burr under the saddle of the G8 countries who are concerned that billions in taxes are being hidden away in Panama's numerous banks. It looks to me like Panama is left with...

Another visit to the old historic area of Casco Viejo

2009-07-05T19:29:38-05:00

I love restored cars, boats and buildings. Something about the things made with craftsmanship from the past intrigue me. It is not just the quality of things made more by hand than machine, but also the history of the time...

Panama to develop 31 hydro projects of 1,047 MW by 2013

2009-07-04T11:01:03-05:00

When coupled with new wind farms, this will nearly double Panama's current energy generation and make it possible to eliminate existing oil fired energy generators. Panama should be a net energy exporter within the next few years. From Hydro review...