Panama: Staff Report for the 2015 Article IV Consultation

IMF Staff Country Reports, August 19, 2015

Source details

The 2015 Article IV Consultation finds that Panama’s economic performance is expected to remain strong.
Real GDP slowed to 6.2 percent in 2014.
Growth is expected to remain stable in 2015.

2014 slowdown to 6.2 percent reflected:
- A slower pace of public investment.
- Continued weakness in Colón Free Zone activity.
- Delays in the Canal expansion.
Near-term factors influencing growth in 2015:
- Positive: Lower oil prices and the U.S. recovery.
- Negative/offsetting: U.S. dollar appreciation and some lags in new public investment.

Over the medium term, the expanded Canal and the new copper mine should help maintain growth at 6–7 percent.

Offsetting influences on growth include:
- U.S. dollar appreciation.
- Implementation lags in public investment projects.
Positive external factors noted:
- Lower oil prices.
- U.S. economic recovery.

Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT)
Crime
Economic sectors
Government debt management
Public debt
Public financial management (PFM)
Public sector
Revenue administration
Additional keywords appearing in the report metadata: Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), authorities project, authority, bearer shares law, Caribbean, Central America, CR, deficit, GDP figure, Global, government, Government debt management, ISCR, NFPS deficit, Panama, private sector, Public sector, staff GDP ratio, Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá

Source: Panama: Staff Report for the 2015 Article IV Consultation