An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
Panama is attempting to reposition itself as a serious contender in the investment migration arena, signing a partnership with Mercan Group to promote and strengthen its Qualified Investor Programme. The agreement, highlighted by the American-Canadian firm and acknowledged in Panamanian channels, signals a renewed push to attract globally mobile capital as the country tries to navigate a delicate economic transition.
Mercan Group, a long-established investment migration developer with projects across North America, Europe, and Asia, will work with the Panamanian government to scale visibility, streamline investor outreach, and emphasise the programme’s due diligence standards. The Qualified Investor Programme offers permanent residency to foreign nationals who invest at least USD 300,000 in approved assets, including real estate, listed securities, or fixed-term bank deposits. Residency can lead to citizenship after five years, making Panama one of the few Latin American states offering a structured pathway from investment to nationality.
The initiative comes at a time when Panama’s economic narrative is evolving. With a GDP per capita of roughly USD 19,000, the country ranks among the more prosperous economies in Latin America, supported by a dollarised system and a services-driven model built around logistics, shipping, and financial services. Yet the economy has faced headwinds. After expanding by 7.3% in 2023, growth slowed to around 2.9% in 2024, largely due to the closure of the Cobre Panamá mine, a shock that removed a significant contributor to national output.
Even so, the medium-term outlook remains broadly favourable. Multilateral institutions expect GDP growth to rebound to 4 to 4.5% in 2025, supported by transport, warehousing, tourism, and the continued strength of trade flows through the Canal. Inflation remains low by regional standards, and Panama retains its reputation as a logistical and financial hub linking North and South America.
Against this backdrop, the refreshed Qualified Investor Programme gives Panama a chance to capture part of the global demand for “Plan B” residency and citizenship options. For investors, it offers a comparatively stable, globally connected base with long-term prospects, though political uncertainty, environmental pressures and fiscal challenges still merit close observation.
