More than 10,000 Jobs Created as Panama Strengthens its Position as a Regional Hub for Multinationals
These actions seek to consolidate Panama as one of the main destinations for regional headquarters of multinationals in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó, highlighted the positive impact of the Multinational Company Headquarters (SEM) regime on the country’s economy, emphasizing job creation, knowledge transfer, and the strengthening of the global services ecosystem. During a discussion with more than 60 representatives of multinational companies and members of the Chamber of Headquarters of Multinational Companies (CASEM), Moltó reported that companies established under the SEM regime have generated more than 10,000 jobs, of which almost half are occupied by Panamanians.
Strengthening the Ecosystem and New Investments
The minister announced that in 2025 the SEM regime granted 13 new licenses, with projected investments of $37.3 million, demonstrating the international sector’s confidence in Panama. He also announced that the National Strategy for the Export of Modern Services has been finalized , which will be presented soon and will open new opportunities to boost the growth of multinationals and the global services sector.
National Talent Promoted by SEM Academy
As part of strengthening the regime, the completion of the first edition of the SEM Academy program was highlighted, an initiative supported by the MICI, focused on the development of national talent. The program directly connects multinational corporations with Panamanian human capital, promoting quality employment and specialized technical training. Moltó invited more companies to join this initiative to boost the country’s competitiveness.
Made in Panama Seal: Progress
During the meeting, business representatives also learned about the progress of the relaunch of the Made in Panama seal, which currently includes more than 1,000 products and around 80 registered companies, reinforcing the promotion of national products in local and international markets.
2026 Priorities
Moltó shared a summary of the main results achieved in 2025 and outlined the agenda for 2026, which focuses on:
- Strengthening Panama’s competitiveness
- Attract more foreign investment
- Promote the development of local talent
- Expanding the global services ecosystem
“Panama seeks to attract more foreign companies, support their growth and consolidation, not only for the economic impact they generate, but also for the valuable transfer of knowledge and experience they bring to the country,” the minister said.
