Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Panama awards $1.4 billion bridge project to Chinese group.
he government of Panama awarded Tuesday a Chinese consortium a $1.4 billion contract to build a bridge over the Panama Canal, a day after a visit by President Xi Jinping.
That tour was part of China’s efforts to extend its political and economic influence in Latin America.
“Panama is moving ahead in its relations with China and without a doubt this project that begins its construction today is part of that message and trust between the two countries,” Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela said.
The order will allow a consortium called Panama Cuarto Puente, composed of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and its unit China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), to design and build a bridge over the Panama Canal.
Source: ABS CBA News
‘Somos lo Mismo’ Solidarity campaign for refugees, migrants launched in Panama.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) last week presented the #SomosLoMismo (We are the same) campaign, aiming to promote respect, solidarity, and empathy between Panamanians and foreigners.
Faced with the growing climate of tension in the public opinion at the regional and national level by the arrival of people from other countries, mainly from Venezuela, manifestations of intolerance, rejection, and stigmatization have been generated. For this reason, UNHCR and IOM in Panama presented the campaign last Saturday (8/12).
The campaign is composed of a series of videos and graphics that highlight how mobility humanizes us and is a growth opportunity for all the people involved in this process. The videos will be distributed through social networks with the hashtag #SomosLoMismo, and with the support of digital influencers who have joined the campaign.
Source: Relief Web
Panama Archbishop: WYD 2019 will be “a great celebration of faith.”
Organizers of the World Youth Day in January 2019 in Panama, presented the event at a press conference in Rome on December 11. Themes such as migration, indigenous people, environment and role of women will also dominate the event.
Preparations are underway for the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day (WYD) that takes centre stage in Panama City, January 22-27. Pope Francis is scheduled to join the celebrations January 23 onwards.
Addressing journalists at Tuesday’s press conference in Rome, Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa of Panama said that the WYD will be “a great celebration of faith.” “We are waiting for the Pope and for the hope he will bring for all of Central America.”
Source: Vatican News
The growth and future of mobile and e-payment commerce in Panama, explained.
Panama has been trying to market itself as a Latin American tech hub for quite some time now, and with mobile payments and e-commerce, they’re keeping to that promise. Although Latin America, in general, has been slower than other parts of the world to adapt to the e-commerce market, Panama is looking to change that in the immediate future. And international investors and startups are looking at investing in Panama as an ideal growth market for this type of commerce.
A saturated smartphone market that’s primed for mobile payments and e-commerce
One of the main reasons Panama is primed for mobile pay and e-commerce is its smartphone saturation. In Panama, smartphone penetration is close to 100%, meaning that nearly every person within the demo of a smartphone user owns and uses one. And that’s huge for business as we head into 2019. Being able to buy, research, and pay for products/services on your smartphone makes business more efficient for the Panamanian consumer, even if it’s something they’re not used to. There’s lots of room to grow and innovate because the market is already there. Purchasing power is expanded greatly with smartphones, and when combined with easy mobile payment solutions, the possibilities are endless for the market.
Source: International Relocation Firm Blog
