The isthmus that joins a continent is celebrating its bicentennial

CAF—development bank of Latin America—has been supporting Panama for the last twenty four years and has also born witness to a republican evolution in a country that has bolstered its democratic processes, the competitiveness of its productive sectors and has made substantial and consistent strides in infrastructure and public policies.

CAF's activities in Panama are based on a regional and inclusive vision that includes impactful initiatives from the province of Chiriquí to Darién, through the financing of important infrastructure projects and basic services with a high impact on environmental and social sustainability, such as Bay of Panama Sanitation, Drinking Water, the Higher Technical Institute of the East (ITSE), Expansion of the Panama Canal, the Panama City subway and various road projects.

In addition, CAF approved and disbursed in 2021 financing amounting to USD 350 million for the digital transformation and inclusion strategy in Panama. In addition, we have issued a credit line as part of the financial system targeting SMEs, which is so vital for economic revival.

In terms of channeling foreign funds, CAF has served as an intermediary agency for extra-regional moneys invested in Panama, such as the Green Climate Fund, the European Union and bilateral cooperation with the Republic of France.

CAF's commitment to the Republic of Panama is based on a long-term sustainable development partnership path with a nation that has more than demonstrated its capacity to manage world-class services with positive impacts throughout the continent.   We are confident in the nation’s capacity for economic recovery and to meet the challenges of modernization imposed by the digital age.

In addition to financing infrastructure projects, we support Panama through technical assistance to improve its public policies on a broad portfolio of priority issues relating to its future, including:

• Climate change and sustainability
• Digitalization
• Public-Private Partnership in Infrastructure
• Industrial and agricultural sector
• Education sector, improvement in educational quantity, quality and relevance at a basic, technical and university level
• Telecommunications
• Electromobility
• Logistics
• Financial Inclusion
• Supporting transparency through an open data policy.
• Support for Regional Competitiveness Centers

Our action strategy in the country is to provide financing and technical assistance for the execution of infrastructure and basic services projects, aimed at a better social and territorial cohesion, while providing assistance to the public and private sectors, as well as to academia and professional associations. In 2022, after twenty-five years of CAF activities in Panama, we reiterate our commitment as an ally in the development of this great nation that celebrates today two-hundred years as an independent state.

Congratulations Panama!