Despite political and economic difficulties which followed the return of Panama's sovereignty by America last year, and pressure from the FATF and OECD, Panama may be weathering the storm. Recent statistics on canal traffic and free-zone exports are both encouraging. Panamax vessel traffic rose to 2,687 transits in the first seven months of fiscal year 2001 (October 2000 to April 2001), representing 36.2% of total ocean-going transits.

Re-exports from Panama's Colon Free Zone (CFZ) reached $1.647 billion in the four months to April, up 2.7 percent on the same period last year. Imports at the CFZ, which comprises around 1,890 businesses in a 1,000-acre (400-hectare) site near the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal, slipped to $1.42 billion in the four-month period, down 0.6 percent on last year.

The CFZ administration, which regulates trading and collates statistics at the duty-free trade park, said re-export figures for the month of April grew 14.1 percent over the year ago period, to $382 million, while imports rose 7.4 percent to $393 million.

The Panama Canal Authority's budget for the fiscal year 2002 (October 2001-September 2002) contemplates increases in traffic and cargo tonnage. 

Cargo tonnage is expected to reach 237.2Mt.

The 2002 budget predicts Panama's national treasury will collect US$226.8mn in direct tolls from the canal, up US$28.6mn on FY2001.

The canal is expected to generate US$795.4mn in total revenues from operations during the next fiscal year. 

Panama Canal Administrator Alberto Aleman also reported that the Culebra Cut widening project remains on track and is scheduled for completion by December this year.

Nextel provides digital wireless communications services.

Panama President Signs New E-Commerce Bill Into Law 
by Amanda Banks, Tax-News.com, London 

A new e-commerce bill has been signed into law by Panama's President Mireya Moscoso. Believed to be the first of its kind to be implemented in Central America, the new law is expected to provide Panama's e-commerce industry with a much needed boost.

According to Alvaro Aguilar-Alfu from Panama legal firm, FABMM, the law is based on the guidelines of the UNCITRAL Model Law on E-Commerce and awards electronic documents and signatures the same validity as written documents.

Under the law, the newly formed Directorate of Electronic Commerce of the Ministry of Commerce has been granted the authority to maintain an optional register of certification authorities. 

The government hopes that the legislation will attract web hosting, call-centre and data centre companies to the country as they can also take advantage of Panama's fully dollarized economy, lack of exchange restrictions and preferential taxation regime for information technology companies.