Forbes touts visiting Panama
Panama continues to gain international media headlines as the country considered as one of the most important tourist destinations of the moment. Last month it was the New York Times, and now Forbes magazine in its online edition, that listed various aspects of hotel development and the Biomuseum as reasons to travel to Panama this year.

Martinelli won’t seek reelection - Mendez
The chairman of the political committee of the ruling Democratic Change Party (CD) and the mayor of the capital city, Roxana Mendez, denied that president Ricardo Martinelli seeks reelection. She said he wants to consolidate the party that has grown considerably in recent years.

Spanish cruise ship year round
The cruise industry continues to consolidate in Panama and shipping companies are expand departures from the country. Royal Caribbean has already confirmed its sixth season (2013-2014) sailing from the port of Colon 2000 in the province of Colon. In addition, the Spanish company Pullmantur will, from this year, keep a ship here all year sailing from Panama.

Sterilization causes polarization of opinion
There are discrepancies in public opinion between those who agree with controlling the birth rate increases in the humble strata and those who believe that the decision to sterilize a woman or man borders on morality and decency. With the adoption in first reading of the draft law No. 196, which establishes the right for female sterilization and No. 305, which ensures the health and education of pregnant teenagers seeking to implement nursing facilities in public schools, those promoting the project have faced criticism from sectors that reject the initiative.

Israeli ambassador pro Colon Free Zone
The weekly shipping newspaper The Bulletin reported that Israel’s ambassador to Panama, Alexander Galilee, has shown interest that the Colon Free Zone (CFZ) becomes the economic trade center of Israel in Latin America. “We want to handle all our trade with Latin America here and not through Brazil and in Argentina,” he said.

Condo explosion on Balboa Avenue
The Auxiliary Prosecutor’s Office is awaiting the reports of Criminology and the Fire Department to determine the cause of the explosion in the building PH White, on Balboa Avenue last week that left three workers seriously injured.

Washington visit to Colón
The Colón Free Zone Users’ Association (AU) was visited by a delegation from the Senate and Congress of the United States. On their tour of the Free Zone and the international port city of Colón, the headquarters of the AU was an important site for a visit. The delegation was attended to by Victor Valdivieso, vice-president of the Association and a group of Directors of the AU, who shared their knowledge and experiences as entrepreneurs and executives of this zone.

CAF visit to Panama
Enrique Garcia, Executive Chairman of the Corporation Andina de Fomento (CAF), made a courtesy visit to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Frank De Lima, with the motive of exchanging views on financial issues of Panama and Central America. During the meeting, Ruben Ramirez, representative of the organization in Panama was also present. The CAF is a development bank established in 1970 and currently consists of 18 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, as well as 14 private banks in the Andean region.

Golf for Cargo Agents
The Panamanian Association of Cargo Agents (APAC) established a committee to plan its first golf tournament. It will be known as the COPA APAC 2012, and will be held on May 21, 2012 at the premises of the Summit Golf Club & Resort.

Cycling activities
The Cycling League of Panama and the Panama City Mayor’s Office have organized a summer program (sign up at Rali Carter stores). Dates include March 11 in La Mesa de San Martin, “entrance to Pacora,” on April 1 in Costa del Este, and April 22 on the Cinta Costera. There will be different categories and registration is $5.00.

Martinelli’s “falling” approval rate remains above 50%
In a survey of public perception the administration of President Ricardo Martinelli has fallen with 50.6% of respondents telling the firm Unimer that Martinelli’s performance is “good” or “excellent.” In October 2009, his acceptance was 85.9%.

Regional banking, insurance offices open within Bank Superintendence
The headquarters of the Executive Secretariat of the Central American Council of Superintendents of Banks, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, was opened within the premises of the Superintendence of Banks of Panama. The decision to establish a permanent headquarters in Panama by this organization was due to strategic reasons that will benefit member countries, said Francisco Lay Solano, president of the regional body.

Los Santos exports
In the fields of the province of Los Santos, specifically in the area of El Guayabal, harvesting and packing of fruit for export is relentless. There, men and women carefully pack watermelons, melons, pumpkins and squash, fruit that will delight European and American buyers.

Parlacen seats sought
Gilberto Chino Succari, Pablo Perez and Manuel Bermudez, of the opposition Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRP), warned that they will not yield their seats in the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) to give space to a group of members of the Democratic Change Party (CD) that nwo seek to return to the regional forum.

Economic rate presented in Switzerland
Panama was presented in the second day session of the World Economic Forum as one of the most dynamic economies in Latin America, maintaining the interest of foreign investors in the country, and that the economy is growing at a rate of 10.5 percent, said president Ricardo Martinelli, in Davos, Switzerland, where this event took place on the world economy.

New Pacific port considered
Given the current conditions of the country as a shipping route, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is analyzing the construction of a container port in Corozal, near the port of Balboa, which is currently operated and managed by Panama Ports Company. The issue was mentioned by the Deputy Administrator of the ACP, Jose Barrios, at a logistics forum organized by the supplement Capital on Wednesday. The investment would be approximately $1,000 million, and the Government would give the administration to a port operator.

Transparency International on economic growth figures
Economic growth numbers are expected to rise, yet fears are increased by the weakness of democracy in the country, said the founder of Transparency International, Peter Eigen, who called to strengthen institutions and to eradicate corruption so as not to scare off foreign investment.

On the subject of electricity
The Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE) will hold a forum on “challenges and threats to the Panamanian electricity sector.” Among the speakers is international consultant Sebastian Bernstein (creator of the Electricity Act of Chile), the former ASAP administrator, Victor Urrutia, and Indesa financial expert Philip Chapman. The event will be held on Tuesday January 31, at the Sheraton Hotel from 3:00 p.m., to 6:30 p.m.

Bolivian airline begins new route from Tocumen
On February 1, the Bolivian airline Aerosur began operating the route between Santa Cruz and Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. Hugo Diaz, Aerosur commercial manager, said that with this new flight, passengers from Panama may connect to Salta in Argentina, and Cuzco in Peru. The airline will started with three weekly frequencies.

India and Panama trade outlook positive
India is on track to expand trade relations with Panama and tripling the trade flow between both countries, said Yogeshwar Varma, India’s ambassador in Panama. On the 62nd anniversary of the Declaration of India as a republic, which took place last week, the diplomat said that this can be achieved through a free trade agreement, a treaty to avoid double taxation and an information exchange treaty on tax, in addition to support given to technological development.

Figali’s deal nearing end
The daily El Siglo reported that there only remains a lack of endorsement by the Comptroller’s Office to terminate the settlement agreement between the Government and businessman Jean Carlos Figali, allowing the businessman to cancel the debt he has with the State, which reaches $29 million.

95 octane petrol up
A gallon of 95 octane gasoline increased last Saturday by 12 cents for a price cap of $4.11 in the cities of Panama and Colon, according to a spokesman of the National Secretariat of Energy.

Press freedom ranking drops
Panama fell 32 points in the annual ranking by Reporters Without Borders on press freedom in moving from position 81 to 113 and it is now located very close to countries like Venezuela and Ecuador. In the 2012 classification, last year, Panama ranked below Nicaragua (72). The international organization highlighted developments in Nicaragua, which won 11 points because the political polarization did not affect reporters.

Public debt keeps fiscal balances in deficit
The public debt at the end of 2011 exceeded the forecast by the Ministry of Economy and Finance that it had submitted to the National Assembly in the middle of the year. Panama owes $12.8 billion, more than $300 million over what was projected. Although this administration has more revenue than any previous ones, the thrust of public spending makes fiscal balances remain in deficit.