With its Old Quarter regenerated to Unesco world heritage standards, Panama's real estate market is looking to develop and upgrade its neighbouring districts. 

Interest from Chinese investors has rapidly grown in Panama since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 2017. Now negotiations for a free-trade agreement are about to begin, feeding expectations of mounting business opportunities across the board, as Jacopo Dettoni reports. 

Juan Carlos Varela, president of Panama, tells Jacopo Dettoni about his expectations from forging diplomatic and business relations with Beijing, and talks about the government reforms designed to avoid another Odebrecht scandal in the country.  

The upgraded canal is meeting expectations in Panama, but the country is not resting on its laurels and is looking to attract FDI beyond the transshipment it is renowned for. However, as Jacopo Dettoni reports, corruption scandals are continuing to cast a cloud.

Néstor González, Panama’s vice-minister of foreign trade, talks to Courtney Fingar about expanding the country’s logistics capabilities with the development of Tocumen airport, and opportunities in mining and a new free zone.

The expansion of the Panama Canal – opened in June – brought some welcome positive publicity to the country in wake of the 'Panama Papers' leaks, which dented its reputation as a financial centre. However, the authorities still have work to do when it comes to tax transparency if the country is to retain its allure to investors outside of the transport and logistics fields. Zack Ashley and Jacopo Dettoni report.

Panama's minister of economy and finance, Frank De Lima, explains how the increased capacity of the Panama Canal, coupled with an influx of investment into the country's mining sector, is offsetting any negative impact of the US recession on its dollarised economy.