Panama Fact Sheet - 2021

Political

Transparent elections since 1990

Smooth transition of power every 5 years

Long tradition of openness to foreign investments

Structural adjustments to economy proven positive

Bureaucracy reduced, but still a major factor

Economic

US dollar is legal tender

One of the fastest growing in the world with an average GDP growth of 6.80% over the past 8 years except the period of global pandemic.

Inflation rate was 1.6% (2021)

Unemployment 18.5% (2021)

Foreign Direct Investment reached over 622.30 USD Million (2021)

Free trade agreements with more than 10 countries, including USA

Financial

No exchange or currency restrictions

Panama´s debt is ranked "Investment Grade", only 3 countries in LatAm have this status

Moody's raised score of Panama's sovereign debt rating to Baa2 and confirmed its outlook for Panama to "stable" 

An economic landscape of friendliness toward foreign investment with healthy and rigorous trade agreements i.e. The Investment Stability Law, the Free Trade Agreements, and Bilateral Investment Agreements (BITs)

Legal

No restriction on 100% foreign owned real estate

BITs with multiple countries securing against expropriation and other risks

One of the most flexible corporation laws in the world

No restrictions on mergers, acquisitions or joint ventures

Enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards

Generous tax incentives for relocating headquarters of multinationals and now multinational manufacturing and assembly.

Tax

Depending on the investment sector, the following are available:

Exemption or discount from income tax

Exemption from import tax on equipment and raw materials

Accelerated loss carry-forward

Accelerated depreciation

No foreign exchange risk

Absence of exchange controls

No restrictions on companies ownership and foreign capital

Other Highlights

Panama is rated the third most competitive country in Latin America, according to the World Economic Forum

Panama has been rated as No. 1 place to retire, according to the International Living´s Annual Global Retirenment Index 2022.

Panama has been awarded in the fifth position of the ranking "Foreigner Investment" of Latin America, according to Global Opportunity Index 2022 published by the Milken Institute.

Caterpillar, Procter & Gamble, 3M, LG, AES, TOTAL, Roche, Air China, Hershey and Heineken are some of the 100 most recent multinationals relocating their Latin American headquarters to Panama