Central America

In order to maximise the potential of more than 15 commercial treaties that have been signed by the Republic of Panama, the country's Ministry of Trade and Industry has recently created a special office within the ministry called the 'commercial intelligence unit' (INTELCOM). This unit will provide knowledge to Panamania-based companies, including on what products the main commercial partners of the country are importing, who their main suppliers are, and details of opportunities that national products have under the commercial treaties. The main objective of INTELCOM will be to gather commercial intelligence relating to foreign trade, in order to efficiently reorientate Panama's productive strategies and decision making, in actions to support export development. INTELCOM will also develop business intelligence through different tools such as market research and interviews with local exporters and Panama's embassies and consulates throughout the world. This valuable information will be processed, analysed, interpreted and disseminated, in order to take advantage of business opportunities that have been identified and may be developed in Panama. INTELCOM will also oversee the strengthening of technology transfer related to the production and commercialisation permitted under the commercial treaties, in order to increase the productivity and competition of the private sector in Panama.

New laws in key offshore jurisdictions came into force at the beginning of 2019 which require entities engaging in specific types of business to demonstrate adequate economic substance in that jurisdiction. Failure to comply with substance requirements could lead to grave consequences, such as incurring significant fines or being struck off by local registries.

The Panamanian government recently gave the green light to the establishment and operation of BPO's Panama Free Zone. The new project constitutes not only the first digital free trade zone in the Republic of Panama, but it is also being promoted as the first of its kind in the Latin American region.