Panama Has A Big Slice Of India: The Isthmus has 16000 Ethnic Indians
Panama sees logistics as the biggest challenge to enhanced trade with India.
Apparently, after the Panama Canal, that tiny sliver of a country at the southern tip of North America is also famous for the best samosas outside India, “made by Indian-Panamanian families,” says Alonso Correa Miguel, Panama’s ambassador to India. “It is the largest Spanish-speaking Indian community in the whole world, around 16,000 people,” he said, which explains the South Indian restaurants, Hindu temples, and a functioning gurudwara that came up in 1986. “People from India established themselves in Panama in the 19th century and have been a very important part of Panamanian society ever since,” he said. “Many of them are owners inside the Colón Free Trade Zone, but they are present in every sector you can imagine, from textiles, to retail trade and free-zone businesses.”
Panama is positioning itself as India’s strategic gateway to Latin America, with a focus on logistics, maritime connectivity, technology and investment opportunities. The ambassador believes sectors such as logistics, finance, pharmaceuticals and technology can redefine bilateral engagement. “The biggest sector that has not been developed as much as it should be is logistics,” he stressed. “India has put many of its baskets in one side of the world when it comes to sea routes,” he said, referring to disruptions linked to the West Asia war. “Panama can give India the pressure valve to solve many problems related to critical minerals, essential goods and trade disruptions,” he said, pointing out that Panama directly connects with more than 1,000 ports globally, but Indian ports still lack sufficient direct connectivity with Panama.
“We need to build those ship routes and allow Indian businesses to see Latin America differently,” he said, underscoring that “We see ourselves as a gateway to Latin America and its 800 million consumers.” “We have 22 free trade zones, two of the largest ports in Latin America and the Panama Canal,” he said. Indian businesses can use Panama as a hub to servemarkets such as Colombia, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. “We have special economic zones designed for digital technologies, research, packaging and assembly operations,” he explained. “Panama has the busiest international airport in Latin America with over 90 destinations connected,” he said.
He added that Panama can serve as both a destination and a transit hub for Indian travellers exploring Latin America. Indian travellers holding valid visas for the US, Canada, the UK, Singapore or Schengen states can enter Panama without additional visa requirements. He noted that nearly 96 percent of Panama’s energy grid already comes from renewable sources, primarily hydropower. “Panama is working with India to make the International Solar Alliance more visible in the region,” he said. “Panama has every kind of terrain Bollywood may need, cities, jungles, islands and beaches,” he said, noting that at least two Bollywood films have already been shot in Panama in recent years.
