Panama Investor Blog

The Film Business in Panama

Rebates, Stages and a solid financial base have turned a once-sleepy community into a production powerhouse. 

The Panama Film Fest recently occurred  between April 3-9, 2014 - which reminded us when we had the opportunity to act as “extras” in the movie filmed in Panama called “Hands Of Stone” – See, I was acting as a North American Student in one of the scenes, while my brother Remington was acting with Robert DeNiro drinking beers in one of our favorite bars called “The Londoners” located in Calle Uruguay.

 Want to invest in the Film Industry in Central America? 

 Heres an informative article we found in the web.

 By: Anna Marie de la Fuente

Panama City: The Booming Business Hub of Central America

 A new film hub has suddenly emerged in Central America. Just as its skyline has morphed dramatically in the space of a few years, Panama, sometimes known as the Dubai of the West, has upped the ante on production, offering a 15% cash rebate to foreign shoots and a studio complex and media center set to break ground by late 2014.

All the construction workers toiling on the skyscrapers in Panama City could easily learn to put up film sets, says location manager Sam Tedesco, who has partnered with producer Jonathan Sanger (“Vanilla Sky”) and NY-based business executive Michael Wilson to build the tentatively dubbed Panama Media Center. Initial plans include four soundstages and office spaces on 20 to 30 acres of land. Tapping both local and international investors, the upcoming facility will cost between $25 million and $50 million to build, according to Sanger, who grew up in Panama.

“Panama is the real hub for Latin America,” Sanger claims. “It has a world-class international airport, no currency exchange issue and stability.” The objective, he adds is to train locals in all aspects of filmmaking.

Read more here 

Permaculture – a term that will BLOW your mind!

We LIKE designing the world around us – Its in our NATURE to become creators

As was done with the creation of the Panama Canal – which makes more than 1 Billion Dollars a year – such is our potential to create other systems that perhaps, if done properly,  can make more than just 1billion dollars (economic gain) but also define solutions to many potential threats as a result of balancing the socio-ecological aspects into panamanian lifestyle.

Permaculture teaches us how to design our environment so that everything that we possibly know so far can be applied in a holistic manner and have not only abundance, but diverse production of life necessities. Using the weather, and microorganisms to work for our benefit instead of systematically destroying certain patterns of life.

The decreased cost of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide inputs, along with the higher prices that consumers pay for organic produce, contribute to increased profits. Organic farms have been consistently found to be as or more profitable than conventional farms. Without the price premium, profitability is mixed. Organic production is even more profitable depending on given price premiums

For markets and supermarkets organic food is profitable as well, and is generally even sold at significantly higher rates than non-organic food.

“A man should look for what is and not for what he thinks should be”

Albert Einstein

What Permaculture teaches us to do is as important as learning the alphabet to write a masterpiece.

Permaculture falls into the reforestation incentives of Panama. 

Designing the land for the optimum production possible according to biology and technology – perhaps even into the tourism sector of Panama.

 We are currently working on the development of this industry in Panama as a whole according to speculated possible designs of its economic trends, social impacts, and natural reserves…  If you are interested in knowing more about Bill Mollison’s Permaculture aspects of design – Lets us know! – we are more than willing to share information – especially if you want to apply some valuable knowledge in Panama or invest directly.

Panama offers market lessons

Panama is currently going through very interesting times - Political banners flood the city with all the candidates promising this and that.

Here's the stinger... not everything that goes on in Panama depends on its own nation... Panama is dependant on other countries such as the USA for basic needs of food, being that it imports around 50% of what it consumes... not to mention the consumption competition of China over Panama - giving roots to the rise in demand of food while the dollar continuously losses its value. 

Panama has done a good job in its investments to improve infrastructures around the city and the transportation - NOW is the time to improve its independence from sketchy international markets and ensure its freedom by at least producing enough to cover its basic needs for not only existence but continuous growth.

Here is an interesting article we found --->

By PAT WESTHOFF

"For a reminder of how global markets for food and other products are tied together, there are few places better to go than Panama.

On a recent family trip, we saw how the country has changed since our last visit seven years ago. The Panamanian economy has been expanding at a rapid pace, with growth averaging more than 8 percent per year for the past decade. Average income levels remain low by U.S. standards, but as is happening in China and other fast-growing economies, rising incomes are resulting in many changes in how people live and what they eat.

Agriculture in Panama has some things in common with agriculture in Missouri. The cattle industry is very big, and corn and rice are important crops. Of course, there are important differences — Panama produces a lot of sugar, coffee, bananas, pineapples and other tropical products.

Panama is a small country, with a population of less than 4 million. Even if changes in farm production or diets result in a large proportional change in Panamanian food product trade, it will only have a very small effect on U.S. and global markets. Panama is not China.

However, the Panama Canal means that what happens in this small country can have important effects on Missouri farmers and food consumers. A lot of Missouri-produced soybeans and other food products are shipped through the canal each year to Asian markets.

A major effort is underway to expand the Panama Canal. New locks and other changes will make it possible for larger ships to use the canal, and this should greatly increase the amount of cargo that can pass through it.

If an expanded canal makes it possible to ship a ton of soybeans from Missouri to China at a lower cost, it can both raise the price of soybeans to Missouri farmers and reduce the price of soybeans to Chinese soybean users. Over time, that could mean more production of soybeans in Missouri and more consumption of soybeans in China.

It would be a mistake to exaggerate how large the effects of an expanded canal will be. Shipping costs might drop by a few dollars per ton for products that are worth hundreds of dollars per ton. For higher-valued products, the effects are likely to be very small in proportional terms.

 Even if Panama has a modest effect on U.S. food markets, the reverse is not true. Panama imports much of the food consumed in the country, so when world food market prices increase, they will usually increase in Panama, as well. A drought in the United States or increasing meat consumption in China will mean higher food prices in Panama.

Panama is in the middle of a presidential election campaign, with three major candidates. Political ads fill the airwaves, and there are even more campaign billboards in Panama than we see in this country.

One presidential candidate in Panama is trying to make rising consumer food prices an issue in the debate, providing another example of how food market developments can have important effects on consumers — and politics — around the world.

Pat Westhoff is director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri and a professor of agricultural and applied economics"

Future homes will become wider and safer investments – Here is how!

Imagine buying a home that not only gives you shelter, but also provides you with your basic water, food and energy consumption...  This is no dream - its actually a reality for many people around the world...

Over 50% of people in Panama make minimum wage – say around $450.00 a month.

The average cost of food for a family is around $320.00

The way we can drastically make a sustainable step towards freedom is with a concept found around the web called “earthships”

This is the FUTURE for time management – This is the way we can increase the value of human resources around the world.

What is an “earthship” ?

". . . the Earthship is the epitome of sustainable design and construction.

No part of sustainable living has been ignored in this ingenious building."

Earthships provide security in economically unsecure times.
 They are the Most Versatile and Economical building designs in the world.

As a “conclusion” -  we (the people of the world)
 all need...
disaster or not... 

1) shelter/comfortable living space
, 2) water, 3) sanitation (sewage treatment/containment)
, 4) energy
, 5) food
, 6) garbage recycling concepts

We need to be able to obtain the above in a way that is not subject to
”thirty year mortgages and hundreds of thousands of dollars”. We need to be able to obtain the above in a way that does not cause devastation to the planet we all live on.

So, here is the kicker – its always nice to feel idealistic and remember, as you close your eyes a vision of a “better” world – or in other words a “paradise” of your own creation - The BREAKING point of the idea is making it from mirco to MACRO – and this happens first as the individual… The individual THEN seeks like minded people and forms a “group” or “community” – as the community flourishes and proves to enhance lifestyle – THEN will it be considered to become a role model for other “communities or villages”

So why will this increase value of human resources? 

Its simple! – If you own a house that takes care of you, produces its own energy, conserves water and even grows your food  - and don’t have to worry about all those “bills” for rent, food, water, energy many people will suddenly have lots of more “TIME”  - time for what? you may ask… TIME for ANYTHING! go

This is GOOD! – One way or another – people will begin to pursue their interests and become as good as they can without worrying to cover their basic needs in the process… For many of those people who make minimum wage are struggling just to stay alive – (i.e. how do we expect them to have TIME to read books about the science or nature… or of physics and math in order to comprehend how wireless energy works for instance… ) they just don’t have it.

They say GOOD things take time… For us to enjoy and have a truly spectacular equal experience with more people around us, we need more people who have read more, played more, listened more, done more, dreamed more, tried more – and of all the above… we need more TIME.

Investing in our childrens TIME seems to be the most IMPRESSIVE and NOBLE act an individual or family can do for by doing only that, thanks to technology now days anyone can know ANYTHING if they only choose to ask the right questions…

We have over a dozen areas designated for potential sustainable developments with “eco-villages” concept in mind ranging from the highlands of Chiriqui: Valley Of The Moon – all the way to the beautiful Pearl Islands.

You can send us an email: [email protected] for any questions.

Some say it’s the “safest investment” you can make…

Panama Reforestation, Teak Plantation 
- The main Interest in investing in forest plantations is that as they grow, this growth gain value and gain value implicit in improving the quality of the wood over the years. An alternative to Panama can be reforestation of 100 hectares within five years at a rate of 20,000 ha / year with the initial investment of $ 100 million (per dollar invested are recovered five). Funds may be the Social Security Trust Fund. This investment and generate significant revenue (for retirement) would generate thousands of jobs in depressed rural areas and recover degraded lands. This new forest mass would help agriculture, ecotourism, energy and health

With Law 24 of 1992 and other regulations, called “Financial and Forestry Incentives”, the Panamanian government granted incentives for foreigners to acquire residency by purchasing land designated for reforestation or already reforested lots with tree plantations of various types.

The plan known as “Agenda for Reducing Carbon Emissions due to Deforestation and Forest Degradation" established by the United Nations will give support to countries including REED in their new programs. Panama is one of the countries along with Paraguay, where there will be a pilot plan to validate and encourage the mechanisms to set the platform for economic growth to continue, but protecting the environment. REDD is an initiative to stop cutting of trees in order to stop polluting emissions from reaching the atmosphere.

As a measure to mitigate the effects from the Canal’s expansion project, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), has pledged to reforest hectares, doubling the number of those which will be used for the project. In addition, the planting of seedlings will not be limited to the Canal surrounding areas, but also will be extended to other areas of country. The team environmental management of the ACP, which has been recognized by international ISO standards, conducts tours to project sites in order to verify compliance GUPCSA giving to environmental requirements. Weekly inspections are conducted jointly between the ACP and GUPCSA, this practice is given as to monitor the most important environmental aspects.

Want to own a tropical timberland sustainable forest? Interested in having direct title real estate? Let us know, and we will gladly point you you to the right direction!

To apply for Panama Reforestation Large Investment Visa this visa, the following documents will be required:
A minimum $80,000 investment including a minimum purchase of five (5) hectares in a Panama government certified reforestation project, forest plantation, or other authorized project. This is the only Panama Reforestation Visa leading to Permanent Residency and eventual Panama Citizenship. After a term of two (2) years has elapsed, the applicant will be able to opt for permanent residence. The specific requirements are: 

“Foreigners that invest with personal title or through legal entity in activities of reforestation or authorized forest plantation, or any other activity authorized by the National Authority of the Environment (ANAM), of at least five (5) hectares and whose minimum investment be Eighty Thousand dollars ($80,000) will be able to request this visa.” 
In case of bringing dependents, the investment should be increased by Two Thousand dollars ($2,000) for each dependent, which can be justified with a local banking reference. 


Permaculture falls into the Reforestation incentives...