| The Republic of Panama is consistently near the | | | | provides important incentives to business. In 2007, |
| top of the list of countries with the best access | | | | Panama attracted $6.2 billion in foreign direct |
| to capital. The latest Milken Institute 'Capital | | | | investment... from the U.S. alone, says the Office |
| Access Index" published in 2008 looked at one | | | | of U.S. Trade Representative. Enactment of Law |
| hundred twenty-two countries worldwide. The | | | | 41 in August of 2007 has made investment in |
| Researchers gathered information from seven | | | | Panama an even more attractive proposition. |
| essential elements that facilitate access to capital. | | | | Through the first quarter of 2008, 15 companies |
| These extremely smart people then used 56 | | | | had taken advantage of the benefits offered |
| different variables drawn from these sectors to | | | | under Law 41. I see no reason why this trend |
| generate the index. The maximum index achieved | | | | would not continue. |
| was Canada (7.90). Panama's index was 5.56, | | | | The success of Panama as a place to do business |
| which ranked it in 38th position, placing it ahead of | | | | is no accident. All the key elements are here - A |
| all of the BRIC economies. | | | | stable constitutional government, an economy |
| This result should not surprise anyone. The | | | | based on the U.S. dollar, low inflation, no foreign |
| Republic of Panama is a great place to do | | | | exchange restrictions, equal treatment of foreign |
| business, just as it has been for decades. I live | | | | and local citizens, and a favorable tax system. |
| here and I have the experience of doing business | | | | The workforce is literate (91.9% literacy) and |
| here every day. It's a wonderful experience. This | | | | largely bilingual / multilingual. |
| is a nation that does business on an international | | | | Panama has Free Trade Agreements with the |
| scale and accommodates the wants and needs of | | | | United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America |
| international businessmen. Panama has always | | | | countries, and is a member of the World Trade |
| respected the entrepreneur and the go-getter. | | | | Organization (WTO). Panama is active in the |
| Great places to do business attract investors who | | | | Caribbean Basin Initiative. The Economic |
| want to do business there. I know that sentence | | | | Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, |
| sounds like circular logic, but self-reinforcing | | | | the Organization of American States, and the |
| phenomena often seem that way. | | | | Interamerican Development Bank have given |
| Panama has also been consistently ranked | | | | Panama positive ratings. Panamanian government |
| amongst the world's freest economies with an | | | | bonds are consistently graded B+ or higher by |
| open door policy for foreign investment that | | | | Standard & Poors ratings service. |