Everything you need to know that happened in the last 2 months in Panama.

Each day we sift through hundreds of articles in English & Spanish to bring you the very best ones from Central America.

From investment indicators to new infrastructure projects. Adventure stories to politics. It’s all here.

Panama May 2014.

Orban López Cruz

Panama Lifestyle

• Ask an Expat: 5 Questions About How Obamacare Applies to US Expats (Tico Times) Did you know that if you are an expat and decide to move back to the states you will qualify you for a 30-day special enrollment period? Tico Times explores this and 5 other Obamacare facts expats need to know.
• The True Cost of Retiring Overseas (Huffington Post) Yes, you can live cheaply abroad. But don’t be fooled by all the “low cost of living” articles, there really is a secret to how it is done, and Huffington Post tells you how to do it.

Roman Königshofer

Panama Tourism

• 5 Reasons to Visit Panama City Right Now (Huffington Post) Winter blues might pull you down, but there is lots waiting in caliente Panama City. Huffington Post gives you five, fabulous reasons to book your flight and visit Panama City, Panama.
• Crowne Plaza Panama Airport Hotel Set for 2015 Opening (Breaking Travel News) Travelers to Panama’s busy airport hub, Tocumen International Airport, will finally get an airport hotel. The Crowne Plaza Panama Airport hotel will be part of the Global Business Terminal, a 520,000 square foot modern complex with eight office towers, an exhibition hall, a conference centre and parking facilities for more than 700 vehicles.
• American Trade Hotel, Panama City (Financial Times) The American Trade Developing Company was built a century ago. Since then, Panama City has welcomed an influx of expats and a growing number of foreign business people and this building has weathered it all.

US Embassy Panama

Panama Politics

• The Rich Are Running Latin America – and Why That Matters (The Washington Post) Latin American democracies—like democracies all over the world—are disproportionately run by the rich.
• A Five-Year Term without Fiscal Reforms? (The Capital via Google Translate) The three presidential candidates at the top of the polls say they will not propose tax reforms during their tenure.

Chaundra

Panama Investment

• Panama Needs to Clean Up Its Act (Bloomberg) Home to the world’s second-largest free-trade zone, Latin America’s fourth-busiest airport, and numerous free-trade agreements, Panama is on its way to becoming the Singapore of the Americas. But to reap the full benefits of such investment, and to address one of the hemisphere’s worst cases of economic inequality, Panama needs to follow Singapore’s lead in fighting corruption.
• Panama Debuts Subway System (The Gleamer) Winding down his time in office, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli on April 5, 2014 inaugurated the flagship project of his five-year term — Central America’s first subway system.
• Panama: Latin America Champion (latinvex) Panama, scheduled to host the 2014 World Economic Forum Latin America, has become a regional champion when it comes to business. Growing imports, tourism and FDI helped boost the economy. Panama is expected to have Latin America’s highest economic growth rate this year, and as a result of recent economic growth, Panama last year became the second-richest country in Latin America after Chile.
• Tourism Revenues Almost Double Canal Tolls (The Capital via Google Translate) The growth in the number of visitors to Panama and the amount of money they spend in the country has been so rapid that it already far exceeds the revenue generated by tolls on the Canal. Tourists spent $ 3.316 million and toll revenues were $ 1,863 million in 2014.
• What Are the Biggest Threats to Panama in 2014? (The Panama Report) Panama is in its seventh year of economic success, fueled by consistent GDP growth, low unemployment, and a voracious national commitment to expanded infrastructure. At a glance, all seems in order, but political rumblings, an unexpected slowdown of two of the country’s major sources of revenue, and other new issues may end up rocking the boat in 2014.

Kaluyala

Panama Real Estate

• Panama, Nicaragua, Or Mexico? In Search of the Best Pacific Coastal Retirement Escape (Huffington Post) Dreaming of life with a Pacific Ocean view, then think of moving to Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico, all boasting long and mystically beautiful Pacific coastlines.
• Panama Enjoys Historic Office Construction Boom (World Property Channel) Panama City, Panama is in the midst of a building boom. Driven by Panama’s real GDP growth, the highest in Latin America, there were approximately 175,000 square meters of office space delivered in 2013, with over 500,000 square meters planned for delivery in between 2014 and 2015.

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