You are here :: Panama Real Estate » Business-services » Sugar-cane-panama

The March 26, 2008 issue of La Prensa, Panama reports an interesting and instructive story about Panama sugar cane honey or syrup. The story demonstrates the number of business and real estate opportunities that Panama offers. Residency in Panama can be obtained by starting a business with $160,000 investment and employing five Panamanian workers full time in businesses such as the one reported in La Prensa.

The La Prensa story details the success of a family in Los Santos province in Panama’s interior. These folks have taken the extraction process for sugar cane a step farther. They pasteurize their product and reduce it to syrup, or honey, depending upon one’s definition. The point is that they are looking to export to Japan and to Spain.

We previously remarked on another story from the press about using the husks from nuts grown in Panama and their use in abrasives. This is another example of business opportunity in Panama’s interior.

The European Union, Japan, and a number of countries are very interested in “natural” products, namely, products with no preservatives or additives. The pasteurized cane syrup apparently meets these criteria. Our point in this discussion is the opportunity for gaining residency in Panama and starting a business to make a profit at the same time.

Panama has a lot of agricultural land and forested land. Panama also has areas that have been logged and in need of reforestation. For those looking for residency visa and an interesting and challenging way of life the Panama Investor Visa and Reforestation Visa are good options.

Panama Exports

Panama’s primary exports are agricultural products such as melons.

Panama has and is negotiating more free trade agreements. Panama has agreements with Singapore and Costa Rica. Canada and Panama are currently in discussions and the free trade agreement with the United States is expected to receive US senate approval this summer. Thus more and more markets are opening up for exports from Panama.

Thus Panama’s export markets are opening up at the same time that expatriates are seeking residency in Panama. Not all opportunities are in downtown Panama City. The interior is rich in natural resources for everything from agricultural products to wind farms and hydroelectric power. A long time ago the publisher, Horace Greeley, advised young Americans, “Go west, young man, go west.” Perhaps if he were alive today it would be, “Go to Panama, go to Panama.”

Panama Real Estate

Panama has had a nice, long real estate boom. Right now there is a pause at the high end as North Americans, especially, sort out credit concerns back home. However, this pause provides great opportunities to buy some excellent property for those with cash. The other option is to live in Panama’s agricultural or mountainous and forested interior. These areas have a more relaxed lifestyle and offer opportunities as noted in the story above. You can come to Panama, buy property and sit on your porch watching the sun set. You can also come to Panama and find fulfillment in a new life.

Property is less expensive in Panama’s interior than on either coast or in the city. If your background, skills, and temperament are conducive to a rural lifestyle think about purchasing agricultural or forest land for your home. Think about the business opportunities of reforesting land as part of gaining your visa or perhaps think up a business using Panama’s abundance of natural resources.

If you are interested in living and working in Panama’s interior contact us at ABPanama. We are bilingual, have over 23 years experience managing real estate portfolios, and we do business throughout Panama.