{
  "title": "IMF Executive Directors Conclude Visit to Panama",
  "publication": "IMF News, May 15, 2019",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2019/05/15/pr19166-imf-executive-directors-conclude-visit-to-panama",
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  "summary": "Press Release No. 19/166",
  "publishDate": "2019-05-15",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Visit details",
      "content": "- Press Release No. 19/166\n- Date: May 15, 2019\n- Delegation: A group of Directors from the 24-member Executive Board comprising Mr. Sami Geadah, Mr. Zhongxia Jin, Mr. Maher Mouminah, Mr. Thomas Ostros, Mr. Alexandre Tombini, and Mr. Piotr Trabinski\n- Visit period: May 13-15\n- Contact: PRESS OFFICER: Raphael Anspach; Phone: +1 202 623-7100; Email: MEDIA@IMF.org"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Meetings and engagement",
      "content": "- Met with President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez\n- Met with Finance and Economy Minister Eyda Varela de Chinchilla\n- Engaged with other senior officials\n- Met members of the financial and banking community and representatives of the private sector"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Assessment of Panama’s economy and strengths",
      "content": "- Panama characterized as a regional trade, logistics, and financial center\n- Described as one of the most dynamic economies in Latin America\n- Strengths noted:\n  - Good policy frameworks\n  - Open trade\n  - High investment\n  - Emergence of a vibrant service sector\n  - Expansion of the Panama Canal"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Challenges and policy priorities",
      "content": "- Continued fiscal discipline highlighted as important for future prospects\n- Sustained efforts to enhance Anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism and tax transparency emphasized to solidify positive economic prospects"
    },
    {
      "heading": "IMF engagement and support",
      "content": "- The Fund has provided technical assistance and capacity development to:\n  - Strengthen the authorities’ supervisory capacity\n  - Modernize revenue administration and oversight\n- Expectation to continue strengthening cooperative relations between the IMF and Panama"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Closing remarks",
      "content": "- Delegation expressed gratitude: “We would like to thank the authorities and the people of Panama for their warm welcome and open dialogue.”\n\nIMF Executive Directors press statement, May 15, 2019.\n\n---\n\n\n References\n\n- https://www.imf.org/-/media/images/imf/bios/imfboard.jpg\n- The Executive Board\n- Panama and the IMF\n- Press Releases\n- PRESS CENTER\n- https://www.imf.org/en/home\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2019/05/15/pr19166-imf-executive-directors-conclude-visit-to-panama"
    }
  ],
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    "Published: May 15, 2019",
    "Press Release No. 19/166",
    "Date: May 15, 2019",
    "Delegation: A group of Directors from the 24-member Executive Board comprising Mr. Sami Geadah, Mr. Zhongxia Jin, Mr. Maher Mouminah, Mr. Thomas Ostros, Mr. Alexandre Tombini, and Mr. Piotr Trabinski",
    "Visit period: May 13-15",
    "Contact: PRESS OFFICER: Raphael Anspach; Phone: +1 202 623-7100; Email: MEDIA@IMF.org",
    "Met with President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez",
    "Met with Finance and Economy Minister Eyda Varela de Chinchilla",
    "Engaged with other senior officials",
    "Met members of the financial and banking community and representatives of the private sector",
    "Panama characterized as a regional trade, logistics, and financial center",
    "Described as one of the most dynamic economies in Latin America",
    "Strengths noted:",
    "Continued fiscal discipline highlighted as important for future prospects",
    "Sustained efforts to enhance Anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism and tax transparency emphasized to solidify positive economic prospects",
    "The Fund has provided technical assistance and capacity development to:",
    "Expectation to continue strengthening cooperative relations between the IMF and Panama",
    "Delegation expressed gratitude: “We would like to thank the authorities and the people of Panama for their warm welcome and open dialogue.”",
    "[https://www.imf.org/-/media/images/imf/bios/imfboard.jpg](https://www.imf.org/-/media/images/imf/bios/imfboard.jpg)",
    "[The Executive Board](https://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/eds.aspx)",
    "[Panama and the IMF](http://www.imf.org/external/country/PAN/index.htm)",
    "[Press Releases](https://www.imf.org/en/news/searchnews)",
    "[PRESS CENTER](http://presscenter.imf.org/)",
    "[https://www.imf.org/en/home](https://www.imf.org/en/home)"
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