According to 'Inside U.S. Trade', Torrijos will travel to Washington in September. External Trade This year, the CPC depends on a 'lame duck' It is anticipated that the Democrats will increase their majority in both houses in the upcoming elections. Failure to do the extraordinary session, the CPC is engavetado until next year. BLOOMBERG State of the Union. This year, both the Senate and the House of Representatives under the control of demócratas.1078946 Betty Brannan Jaen Correspondent... Read Full Story

The pain in Panama Jul24th2008From the Economist Intelligence Unit ViewsWire Inflation has reached a 28-year high Panama, with its dollarised economy, sophisticated financial sector and years of solid economic growth, is not used to dealing with the macroeconomic instability and inflationary woes typical of other Latin American countries in the past. But inflation in Panama, as in the rest of the region, has picked up sharply since 2007 and is now at a 28-year high—and this is having both... Read Full Story

Law will govern on 26 August, six months after its enactment. It was late changes in migration Not only is the delay in the cards for foreigners, but the move must wait. Jose Gonzalez Pinilla Rafael Perez G. panorama@prensa.com The immigration law, designed as one of the first components of the security strategy that seeks to articulate the government of Martín Torrijos, enters into force on August 26 the next six months after its enactment-with setbacks. Not only is the fact that the... Read Full Story

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Economic profile GDP: US$ 481.4 billion (2002)Average real GDP growth: 5.4 percent (2001-02)Inflation rate measured by CPI: 5.1 percent (2001-02)Average savings rate: 23 percent (2001-02) Cumulative FDI approved: US$ 74.3 billion (1991-2001)Cumulative FDI inflow: US$ 28 billion (1991-2001)Cumulative foreign institutional investments: US$ 22.6 billion (1991-2001)Foreign exchange reserves: US$ 100 billion (December 2003)Foodgrains production: 209 million tonnes (2001-2002)Buffer foodgrains... Read Full Story

VISA REQUIREMENTS 1. INDEFINITE RESIDENCE PERMIT AS PENSIONED TOURISTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA. Who may request this Permanent Residence Permit? A person retired from a foreign government or private company earning a permanent minimum income of Five Hundred American Dollars ($500.00) or its equivalent. If the person coming with dependents, an additional One Hundred (U$100.00) monthly is obligatory per each dependant. The law grants, in addition to the indefinite residence permit... Read Full Story

RETIREMENT LIVING Low-cost living In Panama, a refuge for U.S. retirees hoping to stretch their dollars By Jasmina Kelemen Last update: 3:52 p.m. EST Feb. 19, 2008 This is an update to correct a typographical error in a version published on Feb. 14. ALTOS DEL MARIA, Panama (MarketWatch) -- In a lush valley hidden in the coffee-producing hills of Panama, the sounds of tropical birds singing and burbling brooks compete with the rumble of cement trucks groaning their way uphill... Read Full Story

Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:25pm BSTREUTERS UK PANAMA CITY, June 20 (Reuters) - Panamanian President Martin Torrijos said on Friday he would boost subsidies on gasoline and electricity in a bid to prevent further price increases and stem inflation. Panama will spend at least $40 million in the next six months to blunt the impact of further international price increases, protecting consumers who have seen retail fuel costs rise more than 24 percent in the last 12 months, Torrijos said. With... Read Full Story

Panama opens way to new trade agreements Three new agreements come into force this year: Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala. On 7 and July 8 will take place the second exploratory meeting for an FTA with Canada. Rafael E. Berrocal R. rberrocal@prensa.com Panama continues forward with its strategy of opening trade. Before the end of 2008 will enter into force three new free trade treaty, signed with Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica. In addition, the country could be launching negotiations... Read Full Story

DECREE-LAW They start consultations on immigration reform ELIANA GIL MORALES Emorales@prensa.com The Ministry of Government and Justice began the consultation period to reform the immigration legislation in the country. Tayra Barsallo, deputy director of the Directorate of Immigration and Naturalization, explained that the decree law that President Martin Torrijos will discuss with his cabinet, by Feb. 29, was presented to the Panamanian Institute of Tourism, the Ministry of Labour and... Read Full Story