Panama's President José Raúl Mulino announced that after meeting the fiscal deficit target, Panama will allocate B/.11.2 billion in the 2026 Budget for investment in infrastructure and logistics, anticipating massive job creation. The president reiterated that «there is no more economic aid or free money from the Panamanian people» to prevent the waste of resources. With discipline and responsible fiscal management, the country will close the year meeting the 4% fiscal deficit target, an achievement 3.5% lower than the previous year. «Today we are laying a solid foundation for an economy that is starting to take off,» stated the head of state. This process has allowed Panama to maintain its investment grade before major credit rating agencies and regain investor confidence. The General State Budget for 2026 contemplates B/.11.2 billion for investment, which will be channeled into infrastructure projects, as well as water, health, and education sectors. President Mulino highlighted that the government is encouraging private and foreign investment in large-scale projects, including those of the Panama Canal Authority (port, gas pipeline, and the route around the canal), as well as road construction. Between December 2 and 19, 2025, 300,000 national picnic hams will be sold. In David, Chiriquí, the head of state announced the inauguration of the 'Entrepreneur's Space,' a program that will offer technical support and will have B/.100 million in soft financing through 'Caja de Ahorros.' He also informed about the reactivation, in January next year, of the wastewater treatment plant and the sewerage system of David, after years of paralysis. He stated that the country's labor future lies in technical careers and those linked to the expanding logistics sector. The president announced that the Institute of Agropecuary Marketing (IMA) is working to distribute 500,000 Christmas boxes to Panamanian families nationwide. The Christmas box will cost B/.15, a price achieved thanks to the fact that the National Government covers 55% of the cost. The director of IMA, Nilo Murillo, complemented that the traditional Navi Fairs of the end of the year will be held in 132 places nationwide, including islands and communities in the comarcas and Darién. This project will benefit more than 200,000 inhabitants and will include complementary works such as the collector in the UNACHI area. Regarding the recovery of delinquent funds from the Institute for Training and Human Resource Development (Ifarhu) from past administrations, President Mulino informed that between June and October, B/.605,542 has been collected. President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, announced from Bugaba, province of Chiriquí, that the year 2026 will be key for massive job generation in Panama, thanks to robust public investment and the ordering of national finances. The priority, beyond macroeconomic goals, is to improve the quality of life for the population through job creation. After achieving the reduction of the fiscal deficit in 2025, 2026 is shaping up to be the year of investment activation. The president stressed that, according to the International Monetary Fund, Panama will grow more than double the average of the American continent. The head of state urged to take advantage of the student loan moratorium that waives 80% of delinquent interest, before it ends in 34 days. The recovered money will be invested in new scholarships for students from families with incomes less than B/.1,500 monthly and in low-interest loans. The president, who moved his usual conference to inaugurate a new hospital, highlighted that various economic factors show the takeoff of the economy and the attraction of investments that the country requires. During his conversation with the media, the president also referred to the unification of the health systems of the Social Security Fund (CSS) and the Ministry of Health (Minsa), the preparations of the Institute of Agropecuary Marketing (IMA) for the sale of low-cost food, and the efforts of the Institute for Training and Human Resource Development (Ifarhu) to recover delinquent accounts. Ordering of Finances and Maintenance of the Investment Grade President Mulino focused on his government's management to order public finances, which has laid the foundations for economic stability. A total of 359 people have regularized their situation.
