This article was published in the Newspaper "LA NACION" of Costa Rica and translated for us by Jon Hanna of Panama Offshore Legal Services.
It is interesting to see the perspective of Panama by our neighbors to the north.
The Panamanian Empire
by César Monge
100 years ago, France, a world power, failed at building a canal in Panama. With much cost, the USA completed it. It is a project for powerful countries.
Today, the new canal is equally a project of titanic proportions, but it is not being done by Japan. It is being built at a great pace by the Panamanians.
Yes Sir! Who said "scared"?
The British, once a province of the Roman Empire, decided to imitate this form of grandiose thinking and they became the British Empire, with control over half of the planet. Thirteen of her colonies in America inherited this spirit and are now the celebrated Yankee Empire.
So good, a small country grown in the shadows of the Gringos, decided to open its' own road in history.
The Panamanian Empire is born.
Good, so if they continue at this rate for some 2 or 3 generations, there it is.
If they only maintain this rate for 20 years, they will be the Singapore of Latin America, the experts assure. Nothing wrong with that as a prize for consolation.
How do they do it?
They are pragmatic; they make decisions with a single question:
"Is this good for Panama?"
If the answer is positive, they fully dedicate themselves to obtaining it, without romanticisms or bureaucracies.
Good businessmen are "apolitical" (non political).
Hugo Chavez hates the "devil" of Bush. It does not matter (to the Panamanians), they buy gas and petroleum (from Venezuela).
Later they will sell it as gasoline in the Donald Trump marina, for the yachts of the rich Gringos.
There is no electricity?
They import it from Central America.
They approved the FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with the USA in 15 days; then they went to Germany to seek investment in their (canal) locks.
In Spain, they collected a bunch of money (for investment in the Canal). Euros, Yen, Dollars, if it gives life to their economy; "it's better to have one Euro in hand than 100 Balboas in the air".
And so that employment does not fall into hands of immigrants from Costa Rica or Nicaragua, they require that 90% of the positions (employment) are filled by Panamanians. Easy, right?
They move quickly.
They don't put all their eggs in one canal.
They approve the concessions for marinas and hotels in two strokes (quickly); now they are a port of origin for the cruise ships, like Miami, and not just a mediocre stop at loading docks as we have here (in Costa Rica).
Pedro Navaja (nickname for Ruben Blades) as Minister of Tourism is taking them to new levels.
You think HP (Hewlett Packard) employs people in Costa Rica?
They favor us in migration, taxes, telecommunications, and they (Panama) took 3000 jobs (from HP) that we, sitting down, thought were ours. Surprise!
The most modern airport in the region, highways, ports.
Just as the Egyptians made the Pyramids, the Romans aqueducts, and the British railways, the Panamanians are making canals.
If our neighbor is doing well, we should not be jealous.
We should learn.
If you can't beat them, join them.
Their new canal will cost US$5 billion, and will be ready in 10 years.
Remodeling our old airport cost US$100 million, and in 6 years we have not been able (to finish it).
Being small is not only in the mind, greatness is also.
