Dear Sirs:
Panama has become an important location in the past years, not only because of The Panama Canal, the logistics infrastructure and a great standard of Living. Our country has become one of the premier locations to live and retire. Evidence of this is the great number of new real estate projects that are being developed to cater to this new market of North American and European retirees.
The Panamanian government feels that this success is due to many things, among them, a US dollar based economy, excellent standard of living and security. But, the government also acknowledges that many people have contributed to this success, and among one of the most visionary is Sam Taliafierro, who just 5 years ago began making investments in our country and has become one of the most avid promoters of Panama as a great place to retire and live.
We are very pleased to know that he is under consideration for this award, with the assurance that he is deserving of this award considering his contributions to put Panama on the map for second residence buyers and retirees.
Best wishes,
Carmen Gisela Vergara
Deputy Minister International Trade
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
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I write this e-mail to support your nomination of Mr. Sam Taliaferro for the “Mover and Shaker” award. I am partner with an international Law Firm here in Panama (www.mossfon.com <http://www.mossfon.com/> ), an investor in Real Estate in Panama for several years and also a Business Observer for what has happened over the last 10 years in this country.
When I met Sam 7 years ago and I went to see his “Hidden Valley” projects in the Highlands of Panama, I was puzzled. There was an American buying a Valley, Master planning it and then thinking that somebody would actually go up to this remote place, spend several hundred thousand dollars to buy a home to retire and live up there.
Well, not only is the “Hidden Valley”, with over 200 units, completely sold out for quite some time, this project has also created an avalanche of follower-projects not only in the area but in the whole country. In the whole Boquete Area, which no accounts for over 10 Master developments that I know of, the unemployment rate has gone down to zero. Not only has everybody who wants to work the chance to do so, several locals have made considerable wealth selling part of their pastor-land to the developers.
I and several developers in Panama asked ourselves: why was Sam so successful in his project? The answer to this is: He first built infrastructure and he went straight to pursue his dream. He made it happen!
Now Sam is a very respected Expert here in Panama and I do not know of any development where he has not been involved in the initial planning phase for his advise and comments.
Panama has had a very interesting constellation of events that came together more or less at the same time. The Americans left by the end of year 1999 and gave to the Panamanian people several Military bases in prime location and with first class infrastructure. This – besides of the up-and-coming Babybommer-Wave that is coming to Panama to buy Real estate, together with a very stable and Business-Friendly Government has allowed for this Boom which is second-to-none in Latin America, to happen.
In other words, the boom that we see now in front of our eyes eventually would have happened anyway, but it was without any doubt Sam Taliaferro whose vision and insistence made the time for a countrywide boom right.
Kind regards,
Chris Zollinger
Partner Mossfon Group
Mossack & Fonseca Co.
www.mossfon.com <http://www.mossfon.com/>
Tel. +507 263 88 99
e-mail: Zollinger@mossfon.com
To whom it may concern,
Having participated in business leadership positions in the Republic of Panama as the former Panama Chamber of Commerce President and active in the construction industry, I can assertively make a very positive reference on how Mr. Sam Talliaferro has influenced the real estate industry in our country.
Mr. Talliaferro had a vision many years ago of Panama’s potential as a destiny for baby boomers from the USA and other developed countries looking for a second or retirement home. Through his real estate developments and very well focused promotional efforts outside Panama, he has managed to get the attention of various organizations and magazines that have made Panama an evermore widespread destiny of interest among baby boomers.
In addition, through his efforts, many local and international developers have decided to follow in his footsteps, providing them with experience and sometimes well intended criticism to the industry where it’s needed.
In short, in Panama, we realize this emerging market as extremely important for our mid term economic development with an impact that could be superior to that of the Panama Canal expansion that still needs to be approved through a referendum. Sam Talliaferro is a true industry leader and has awakened a country to enormous opportunities and economic welfare.
Best Regards,
EMPRESAS HOPSA
August Simons
Corporate Development Manager