## IMF Executive Directors Conclude Visit to Panama

_IMF News, May 15, 2019_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [IMF Executive Directors Conclude Visit to Panama](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2019/05/15/pr19166-imf-executive-directors-conclude-visit-to-panama)

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## Bibliographic details
- Published: May 15, 2019

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### Visit details
- 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

### Meetings and engagement
- 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

### Assessment of Panama’s economy and strengths
- Panama characterized as a regional trade, logistics, and financial center
- Described as one of the most dynamic economies in Latin America
- Strengths noted:
  - Good policy frameworks
  - Open trade
  - High investment
  - Emergence of a vibrant service sector
  - Expansion of the Panama Canal

### Challenges and policy priorities
- 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

### IMF engagement and support
- The Fund has provided technical assistance and capacity development to:
  - Strengthen the authorities’ supervisory capacity
  - Modernize revenue administration and oversight
- Expectation to continue strengthening cooperative relations between the IMF and Panama

### Closing remarks
- Delegation expressed gratitude: “We would like to thank the authorities and the people of Panama for their warm welcome and open dialogue.”

*IMF Executive Directors press statement, May 15, 2019.*

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## References

- [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)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2019/05/15/pr19166-imf-executive-directors-conclude-visit-to-panama_