About Panama
Strong foreign investment

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the direct foreign investment reached US $3 billion in 2007 (17% of the GDP), partly due to the strong real estate market, the strong activity in the Colon Free Zone and the purchase of the Banistmo group by UK HSBC Holdings.
Panama is a country attractive to foreign investors since it does not require special permits, authorizations or registrations to rate the investors. The law protects foreign investors for 10 years before changes in taxes or municipal obligations and labor laws take effect.
Panama is a popular place to establish holdings and sales operations for many multinationals because taxes are only paid for the income generated domestically. The Panamanian government supports foreign investment and wishes to promote it by tax exoneration laws and incentive schemes.
The list of foreign companies that are doing business in Panama is big:

- Federal Express                                
- DHL                                                  
- Price Smart / Costco                          
- Marriott Hotels   
- Proctor & Gamble                              
- Holiday Inn                                        
- Sheraton Hotels                                 
- Kansas City Railways                         
- Continental                                        
- American Airlines                               
- Delta Airlines                                     
- Whampoa                                          
- Warranty Company of the Americas and Hutchison

The majority of the big franchises of the United States are present as well:

• Domino’s
• KFC
• Pizza Hut
• TGIF
• Cinnabon
• Zara
• Louis Vitton
• Emporio Armani
• Lacoste
• Sanborns
• La Senza