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New President in Panama – Who is Laurentino Cortizo?

Bringing investment to agriculture
Agriculture is a key revenue generator for the Central American country, and an area Cortizo is familiar with, thanks to his previous Ministerial role. Cortizo plans to encourage growth in the agricultural sector by:- Subsidizing small producers: this involves creating a multi-purpose agricultural trust with the National Bank of Panama
- Provide exemptions for up to 50% of agribusiness companies established in Panama from paying Personal Property and Services Transfer Tax (known locally as Impuesto de Transferencia de Bienes Muebles y Servicios or ITBMS)
- Present a bill in the National Assembly to establish opportunities in technology, creativity, location of markets and scholarships for entrepreneurs in the sector.
Boosting the tourism sector

- Improvement in tourism products
- The execution of a long-term investment plan to develop tourism infrastructure
- A permanent tourism promotion fund program
- The establishment of the “Tourist Entrepreneur” program for loans to entrepreneurs and SMEs, with emphasis on the development of tourism products through the Bank of Opportunities.
Facilitating finance sector growth
The President-elect aims to boost private investment in the financial sector as well. With the appointment of new ministers who will manage the economic sector of the country, new objectives aim to make investors in Panama feel at home. The government intends to enable companies that will create jobs for Panamanians and support economic growth. Cortizo intends to:- Modernize the regulations on electronic commerce
- Expand the use of the ‘electronic wallet’ recently implemented by the National Bank
- Promote legislation to facilitate the use of electronic payments in the private sector.

Special economic zones in Panama
Special economic regimes have played an important role in attracting investments, increasing business activity and generating employment, so it is necessary to guarantee their sustainability and strengthen them. In particular, the model of the Colón Free Zone has been showing signs of fatigue. The new President plans to rejuvenate this model. This plan includes lifting the benefits for businesses in the Colón Free Zone to equate with those of Panama Pacífico. The Colón Free Zone needs a digital makeover to keep up with modernized commercial activity. New policies that enable and maximize the flow of productive knowledge between these local economies will support the development of new productive capacities, and expand and diversify the products and services that Panama offers. The new president-elect proposes to modernize the Administration of the Colon Free Zone, adapting it to the new realities of world trade, morphing it into a Modern Free Zone. This zone will play an integral part of the ongoing development of the City of Colón. To build financial capability in and outside of the special zones, the new government aims to achieve the following:- Create a team equipped to develop a plan for adaptation, revitalization, defence and promotion of our financial services sector based on a defined strategy and vision.
- Install a technical table, with the participation of all the protagonists of the services sector, for the transformation of the Panamanian financial system, favoring new financial technology.
- In conjunction with the banking sector, insurers, stockbrokers and other actors, review, adjust and advance the modernization of governance and standards necessary to strengthen these sectors.
- Promote the use of digital platforms in the financial sector to create simpler procedures for investors.
A new era for several sectors
A new period of economic activity will begin in Panama, in which the new government will pursue economic acceleration by encouraging and facilitating foreign investment methods in Panama. In the following years, flow-on consequences of increased investment in these key areas could bring investment and educational, political and social growth to the Central American country.Biz Latin Hub can help you with doing business in Panama
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