位於中美洲最南端,擁有連接大西洋和太平洋的巴拿馬運河,戰略與經濟地位皆相當重要。國家經濟以服務業、金融業和貿易業為主,其金融業發展尤其快速,為拉丁美洲地區最重要的金融中心︒但2016年爆發「巴拿馬文件」醜聞,該國金融體系洗錢問題因而被揭露。近年來運河最大通行客戶為中國船隻和貨櫃,2017年巴拿馬政府宣布與台灣斷交。是世界上第一個美國以外使用美元作為法定貨幣的國家,但近年美國對該國的影響力逐漸減弱。
Year Founded: 1903
Panama is located at the southernmost part of Central America and controls the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, dominating a key strategic and economic position. Panama’s economy is based on a well-developed service sector, especially commerce, finance, and trading. It’s the most important financial hub in Latin America. But due to the release of the 2016 Panama Papers scandal, the country’s money laundering issues were exposed. Panama switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2017. It was the first country to use the US dollar as its official currency besides the United States, but in recent years, American influence in Panama has decreased.