Panama Makes its Case to Global Investors

Source:  IM Global Wealth

Speaking to IMGW.news during the Investment Migration Forum 2026 in Paris, Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Armando Moltó Alain, outlines the country’s vision for trade, foreign direct investment and economic development, as well as its ambition to strengthen Panama’s position as a leading business and investment hub in the Americas.

“Over the years, Panama has taken significant steps to strengthen its legal and regulatory framework, enhance due diligence and compliance mechanisms, and align itself with internationally recognised standards on transparency and financial integrity” – Julio Armando Moltó Alain, Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industries

Panama has long occupied a strategic position at the crossroads of the Americas. Home to the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most important trade arteries, the country has built an economy centred on logistics, international commerce, financial services and global connectivity. Increasingly, however, Panama is seeking to position itself not simply as a gateway between continents, but as a destination for investment, entrepreneurship, innovation and long-term economic growth.

These themes were evident at the Investment Migration Forum 2026 in Paris, where more than 300 delegates from over 40 countries gathered to discuss the future of investment migration, global mobility, foreign direct investment and international competitiveness.

Organised by the Investment Migration Council (IMC), the worldwide forum for investment migration headquartered in Switzerland, the gathering is widely regarded as one of the most influential in the field. It brought together government representatives, academics, legal professionals, due diligence specialists, wealth advisers and international investors.

Among the senior government figures attending was Julio Armando Moltó Alain, Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industries. During the Forum, IMGlobalWealth.com Editor-in-Chief Ray de Bono met with the Minister to discuss Panama’s economic vision, the country’s approach to attracting investment and talent, and the opportunities emerging for businesses, entrepreneurs and globally mobile families.

In the following interview, Minister Moltó shares his perspective on Panama’s competitive advantages, the importance of transparency and regulatory integrity, and the role he believes the country can play as a platform for growth and opportunity across the Americas.

1. Panama is often described as a strategic bridge between North and South America, with a world-class logistics sector, an international financial centre, and a growing appeal for global investors and entrepreneurs. Some observers have even suggested that Panama has the potential to become the “Dubai of the Americas”. Do you share that vision, and what would Panama need to do to achieve it?

Julio Moltó: Panama has tremendous potential, and it is understandable why some observers draw comparisons with Dubai. We share important characteristics, including a strategic location, strong connectivity, a services-driven economy, and a long tradition as a gateway for international business.

At the same time, Panama does not aspire to replicate any other country. Our strength lies in our own unique advantages and in the role we have played for decades as the natural bridge of the Americas.

Panama is already one of the most important hubs for trade, logistics, and international business in the region. The Panama Canal, our port network, the Colón Free Zone, our international financial center, and our extensive air connectivity have created an ecosystem that few countries can match.

The opportunity now is to build on these strengths. As global supply chains evolve, companies seek resilient regional platforms, and digital infrastructure becomes increasingly important, Panama is well positioned to attract investment in logistics, technology, data centers, advanced services, manufacturing, and regional headquarters operations.

This administration is focused on strengthening competitiveness, improving the business environment, expanding trade opportunities, and attracting high-quality investment that generates long-term value for the country.

The objective is clear: to further consolidate Panama as the leading platform for trade, investment, logistics, innovation, and international business in the Americas, a country where global commerce, capital, talent, and opportunity converge.

2. Around the world, governments are reassessing how they attract foreign investment while maintaining public confidence and regulatory integrity. What lessons has Panama learned in balancing openness to international investors with robust compliance, transparency, and due diligence standards?

Julio Moltó: The most important lesson is that competitiveness and credibility must go hand in hand.

In today’s global economy, investors are looking for more than opportunities. They are looking for transparency, legal certainty, strong institutions, and regulatory environments they can trust. Panama understands this well. Our experience has shown that sustainable investment is built on a foundation of clear rules, good governance, and international credibility.

Over the years, Panama has taken significant steps to strengthen its legal and regulatory framework, enhance due diligence and compliance mechanisms, and align itself with internationally recognized standards on transparency and financial integrity. These efforts have strengthened investor confidence and reinforced Panama’s position as a reliable destination for international business and investment.

This administration firmly believes that competitiveness and compliance are complementary objectives. A country that seeks to attract global capital must also earn global confidence. That is why transparency, legal certainty, and regulatory integrity remain central pillars of our economic strategy.

Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that investors see Panama not only as an attractive place to do business, but also as a trusted long-term partner for growth, investment, and success.

3. Global mobility patterns are changing rapidly. High-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals are becoming increasingly selective about where they choose to live, work, and invest. What advantages does Panama offer that distinguish it from other jurisdictions competing for this audience?

Julio Moltó: Global mobility is evolving rapidly, and today’s investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals are making decisions based on a broader set of factors than ever before. They are looking for stability, connectivity, quality of life, business opportunities, and access to international markets.

Panama offers a unique combination of these advantages.

We have a dollar-based economy, a strategic location at the center of the Americas, one of the region’s leading aviation hubs, world-class logistics infrastructure, a sophisticated services economy, and a business environment that is familiar to international investors and entrepreneurs.

Few jurisdictions can offer the combination of global connectivity, dollarization, regional market access, and international business experience that Panama provides.

These advantages are complemented by a robust financial services sector, a territorial tax system, and immigration programs designed to attract investment, talent, and long-term commitment to the country.

Beyond the business environment, Panama offers a high quality of life, excellent international connectivity, quality healthcare and education options, and a multicultural society that has welcomed people from around the world for generations.

What truly distinguishes Panama is that it allows people not only to invest successfully, but also to live, work, build businesses, and remain connected to opportunities across the Americas and beyond.

4. Many countries are seeking to attract not only capital but also innovation, entrepreneurship, and long-term economic contribution. How is Panama ensuring that international investors create sustainable value for the country’s economy, employment market, and wider society?

Julio Moltó: For Panama, investment is not simply about bringing capital into the country. It is about creating opportunities, strengthening competitiveness, and generating long-term value for our people.

The objective of this administration is to attract investment that creates quality jobs, develops local talent, promotes innovation, facilitates knowledge transfer, and contributes to sustainable economic growth.

That is why we are focused on attracting investors who view Panama not only as a destination, but as a platform from which they can build, expand, and create lasting economic impact.

A strong example is Panama’s Multinational Headquarters regime, which has attracted more than 180 multinational companies to establish operations in the country. Beyond the investment they bring, these companies create high-value employment opportunities, strengthen local capabilities, develop Panamanian talent, and facilitate the transfer of global expertise and best practices.

At the same time, we continue to promote investment in strategic sectors such as logistics, technology, advanced services, manufacturing, energy, digital infrastructure, and other activities that generate significant economic spillover effects throughout the broader economy.

The measure of success is not simply how much investment arrives, but how much value it creates.

Our goal is to foster a virtuous cycle in which investors succeed, businesses grow, workers gain new opportunities, and Panama becomes increasingly competitive and prosperous.

That is the kind of investment Panama seeks to attract: investment that delivers results for investors while creating lasting benefits for the country and its people.

5. Looking ahead over the next decade, what is your vision for Panama’s place in the global mobility, investment, and wealth management landscape, and what opportunities should international investors be paying closer attention to today?

Julio Moltó: Over the next decade, Panama is well positioned to further strengthen its role as a leading hub for investment, international business, global mobility, and wealth creation in the Americas.

The country already possesses many of the attributes that investors value most: a strategic geographic location, the Panama Canal, world-class logistics infrastructure, a dollar-based economy, strong international connectivity, an established financial services sector, and decades of experience serving as a gateway between global markets.

Looking ahead, significant opportunities are emerging in logistics, infrastructure, technology, digital services, data centers, financial services, wealth management, energy, tourism, and regional corporate operations. Panama is also well positioned to benefit from major global trends such as supply chain diversification, nearshoring, digital transformation, and the increasing mobility of talent and capital.

As companies, entrepreneurs, family offices, and investors seek stable, well-connected jurisdictions from which to manage regional operations and access growing markets, Panama offers a compelling combination of connectivity, legal certainty, business experience, and quality of life.

This administration’s vision is to further position Panama as the leading platform for investment, global mobility, international business, and wealth creation in the Americas. Not simply as a destination for investment, but as a strategic base from which investors can access opportunities across the region and beyond.

The opportunity is not only to invest in Panama, but to leverage Panama as a platform for growth, connectivity, and long-term value creation across the Americas. That is the direction this administration is pursuing and the role Panama is uniquely positioned to play in the decade ahead.