Panama

In addition to an article on the expanding domestic film industry in Panama, this chapter contains useful tips for business and leisure travellers, including hotel listings and contact information for ministries, embassies and more.

Recent economic, social and infrastructure developments have brought along changes in key legislation. This chapter provides an overview of current legal changes, highlighting areas such as business licences and employment contracts, as well as intellectual property protections and rules and regulations for maritime firms and vessels. In addition, it features a viewpoint from Francisco González-...

The tax chapter provides an overview of the Panamanian tax regime, highlighting accounting and reporting procedures as well as the main types of taxies levied. This chapter also provides a look at international agreements and the establishment process for various types of firms, and features an interview with Carlos Karamañites, Partner, KPMG Panama.

At the height of its economic success, Panama seems to be seizing the opportunity to expand medical infrastructure. Funding for health in both the public and private sectors is rising along with spending per capita on medical services. Five new hospitals under construction are expected to add 1500 new beds and benefit some 658,000 patients, boosting the quality of health care in areas outside of...

As Panama enters a new stage of economic maturity, the quality of its education system has claimed a pivotal role for authorities and the private sector alike. Curricular reform has significantly improved performance across the board: coverage for initial education rose 12.1% from 2011 to 2012, while coverage for primary and pre-middle school education rose 2.1% and 0.8%, respectively. In the...